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Jai Govinda (Benoit Villeneuve), began his dance journey with Les Grands Ballets Canadiens in Quebec City and at L’École Supérieure de Danse des GBC in Montreal, Canada. He later trained in Bharata Natyam under renowned gurus, including Dr. Mamata Niyogi Nakra, Sri U.S. Krishna Rao and Smt. Chandrabhaga Devi, Sri K.J. Govindarajan, and Smt. Jamuna Krishnan.
Since his dance debut (Ranga Pravesh) in 1983, Jai Govinda has performed extensively across Quebec, Canada, the USA, France, and India. His Canadian tours included cities such as Quebec City, Sherbrooke, Ottawa, Toronto, and Montreal. His performances in India were particularly well-received, earning praise from critics and dance aficionados alike. At a time when solo male Bharata Natyam dancers were rare, Jai Govinda stood out not only for his skill but also for being a French-Canadian artist mastering a classical Indian dance form.
Initially, Jai Govinda taught ballet and Bharata Natyam at Kala Bharati in Montreal. He later founded his own dance company, the Sattvika Foundation. Dividing his time between Montreal and India, he mentored students towards their Arangetram and conducted master classes, workshops, residencies, and lecture demonstrations at prestigious institutions such as École Nationale de Cirque/Cirque du Soleil, UQAM's Department of Dance, Concordia University's Department of Contemporary Dance, and McGill University, among others.
In Vancouver, Canada, he taught at various institutions, including The Dance Centre and UBC's Asian Studies program. With the support of dance scholar Dr. Mandakranta Bose and his early student Anusha Fernando, he began teaching at the Jai Govinda Dance Academy and UBC's Continuing Education program. In 1999, with Barbara Clausen's management, he established the Mandala Arts and Culture Society, a nonprofit organization through which he aimed to promote Bharata Natyam in Canada.
Jai Govinda's work as a dancer, teacher, and choreographer has received national and international acclaim. He was awarded the Dance Centre’s 2006 Isadora Award for excellence in teaching and his contributions to British Columbia's dance community. In 2014, he was honored with the Vancouver Mayor’s Arts Award for Dance, recognizing his leadership, innovation, and lasting impact on the city’s cultural life. Over the course of his career, 46 students have graduated through their Arangetram under his guidance, with many continuing to pursue professional dance careers. Although he has officially retired from most teaching duties, Jai Govinda remains a guest teacher at Mandala and continues to support the flourishing of Bharata Natyam in British Columbia and Canada.
References
edit{{reflist}https://www.mandalarts.ca}