Composer and Vocalist
Yadavan trained from a very young age in Sri Lanka under Sangeeta Bhooshanam S Balasingam and furthered his musical aspirations in Chennai, India, where he studied under the renowned Sangeetha Kalanidhi B Rajam Iyer. Yadavan holds a Bachelor of Arts in Indian music from Madras University, India, as well as a Diploma from the Music Academy of Chennai, for which he was awarded the “Sangeetha Rathna” title. He won the GNB Memorial Award for “The Best Male Vocalist” in the 1999 Music Academy annual competitions, and also broke records by being awarded as many as nine prizes in the same year.
Yadavan is a most sought after vocalist and has provided vocal accompaniment for many dance performances, as well as dance and mridangam arangetrams all over the world. He has been performing on a regular basis with various dance teachers based in the UK, Switzerland, France, Germany, Holland, Norway, Australia, New Zealand, Sri Lanka, India, Canada and the US.
Since April 2002, Yadavan has been collaborating with his wife, Bharatanatyam dancer, teacher and choreographer, Nina Rajarani MBE, touring internationally with her professional dance company, SRISHTI – Nina Rajarani Dance Creations. In recent years, he has also been active in composing music scores for SRISHTI’s new dance productions. In September 2006, Nina Rajarani’s piece “Quick!” was the winner of Europe’s largest choreographic competition, the Place Prize 2006, sponsored by Bloomberg. Yadavan composed the music for this piece as well as directed and performed in the musical team of this winning company.
Yadavan has been involved in all of SRISHTI’s education initiatives nationally. In addition to this, he teaches Karnatik vocal music at Srishti’s dance school based at the Harrow Arts Centre as well as on an individual basis. Yadavan is well acquainted in teaching the music component of the Bharatanatyam syllabus of the Imperial Society of Teachers of Dancing (ISTD). He has also sung for the ISTD’s Bharatanatyam audio resource for teachers.
Music
Y Yadavan singing astapadi for the ISTD’s Bharatanatyam audio resource, 2004.
Ragam: Darbari Kaanada Talam: Adi
Y Yadavan singing a devotional Tamil song dedicated to Murugan – extract from Kavacham
Yadav Yadavan performing for Tamil Orphans Trust at Winston Churchill Hall on 26 April 2015. Accompanied by S Jalatharan, K Anandanadesan, Sanjuran Keerthikumar, RN Prakash, Virusihan Rajaji.
Press Reviews
You wouldn’t believe the speed of composer-vocalist Y Yadavan’s tongue as he articulates the syllables that guide and emphasize the choreography.
Village Voice, Tuesday, October 2nd 2007
Audience Feedback
The dancers were incredible and the musicians brilliant, especially the vocalist. I’d go and see it again tonight with as many of my friends that I could muster if it was possible!
Nigel Haworth, April 2007