Anandini Chandrasekhar

🪔 About

Anandini Chandra Sekhar is a prominent Bharatanatyam dancer, teacher, and choreographer, known for her dedication to the traditional Thanjavur style. Her training in Bharatanatyam commenced at the age of two, primarily under the tutelage of her mother, the world-renowned dancer Sudha Chandrasekhar, who is also the Founder and Artistic Director of Hindu Temple Rhythms (HTR). Anandini also had the privilege of training under her mother's gurus, Guru T.K. Mahalingam Pillai, Smt. Karunambal Pillai, and Guru K. Kalyanasundaram Pillai of Sri Rajarajeshwari Bharata Natya Kalamandir in Mumbai, India. Anandini completed her arangetram in 1994 under her mother's guidance. Following her debut, she began her teaching career as an assistant for the Hindu Temple Rhythms dance school. After graduating from college in 1999, she transitioned to teaching private and small group Bharatanatyam classes full-time in Michigan. During her time at the University of Michigan, she co-founded "SAADHANAI," an organization dedicated to preserving and promoting traditional art forms through intensive seminars with master teachers. Her performing career includes being selected as one of ten dancers for the Michigan Opera Theatre's 2002 production of the French opera LAKME, which was choreographed in Bharatanatyam by Sudha Chandrasekhar. In 2003, Anandini co-founded RASA DANCE COMPANY, a Bharatanatyam touring company, performing across Chicagoland, Metro-Detroit, and Shreveport, Louisiana, alongside Shalini Ravindran and Aparna Srinivasan. Currently, Anandini Chandra Sekhar is the Director of the Vidyanjali Dance School of New England, which operates in Newton and Burlington, Massachusetts. The school, a branch of Nritya Sudha's Hindu Temple Rhythms, offers Bharatanatyam instruction from beginner to advanced levels, and its students perform at various festivals and outreach programs in the Greater Boston area. Beyond Bharatanatyam, Anandini has also trained in Kuchipudi, Kathak, Mohini Attam, Ballet, Tap, Jazz, Modern Dance, and Congolese Dance. She has also performed as a lead female vocalist with light/film music bands and received Carnatic vocal training from Smt. Nivedita Shivraj and Smt. Deepti Navaratna. She was featured in India New England's 'Singing Stars' in December 2012 and as one of the 'Women Who Win' in 2021.