Urmila Sathyanarayanan born on Jan 8th 1966 had her debut in 1976 and has been dancing for three decades since then. Trained by PadmashriDandayuthapani Pillai, Kalaimamani K. J Sarasa and Padma BhushanKalanidhi Narayanan, she is known for her precise footwork, clean lines and graceful poses.
The Government of India awarded her scholarship and later a grant for the production of "Bharathi's Dream of An Independent India". An “A” Grade artist of the Doordarshan Kendra, Urmila is also in the list of Bharathanatyam artists empanelled by the I.C.C.R., New Delhi. She received the ‘Nadanamamani’ in 1996 from Karthik Fine Arts.She is recipient of ‘Kalaimamani’ in 1997 by the Tamil Nadu State Government and ‘NrityaChoodamani’ from Krishna Gana Sabha in 2001.She has been awarded the National Eminence award in 2003 and the Indian Fine Arts Society award for ‘best Natyaacharya’ in recognition of her excellence in teaching.
She founded the institution, ‘NatyaSankalpaa’ in the year 1996. Since its inception, over 50 students have successfully completed their arangetram. Many of their students perform as solo artistes in the December festival and NatyaSankalpaa has been invited to prestigious festivals like the Mamallapuram Festival and Natyanjali for group performances.
Urmila has danced extensively in India and abroad. Her performances abroad include Festival of India' Edinburgh – 1999, Toured Europe extensively, presenting programs in France, Switzerland, Germany, Holland, Norway and England – 1999 & 2000, the United States of America in 2003, Performed in Canada (2002), Malaysia (2000 & 2001), Sri Lanka (2002)., Royal Tropical Institute, Netherlands, 1999-2000, TamizSangam, Middle East 2003, Dance India Taste India Festival, Perth (2002), Sydney msic and dance Festival (2009).
She has also choreographed and performed thematic presentations. Some of them include PanchaliSapatham – musical score by Lalgudi G Jayraman, Woman – ‘Past, Present, Future’ – highlighting the status of the Indian Woman of the past, present & in the future, Programs based solely on the compositions of Thyagaraja, Annamacharya, Swati Thirunal etc.