Anuradha Jonnalagadda

🪔 About

Dr. Anuradha Jonnalagadda is a renowned Kuchipudi exponent, choreographer, and scholar, recognized for her profound contributions to Indian classical dance. Her extensive training includes tutelage under the legendary maestro Vempati Chinna Satyam and the famed dancer Sobha Naidu. She holds a PhD in Dance from the University of Hyderabad, awarded in 1996, with her research specializing in 'Tradition and Innovation in Kuchipudi Dance' and the evolution of Kuchipudi dance techniques in the last century. Throughout her career, Dr. Jonnalagadda has seamlessly blended artistic depth with academic leadership. She has served multiple terms as the Head of the Department of Dance and earlier as the Dean of the Sarojini Naidu School of Arts and Communication at the University of Hyderabad, where she played a pivotal role in strengthening dance as a serious academic discipline. Her influence extends to shaping national standards, as she has contributed to curriculum design, institutional planning, academic expansion, and revisions of the NET syllabus in dance and theatre as a subject expert with the University Grants Commission. As a performer, Anuradha Jonnalagadda is celebrated for her thoughtful balance between tradition and contemporary ideas, evident in her choreographies such as Mahakali, Chhaya, Namostunari, Apas – An Ode to Water, and Prabuddha Manimekhala. She has represented India at major international festivals and performed at prestigious venues like Khajuraho and Soorya. Her commitment to preserving the art form is further demonstrated through her work with the Art India Foundation, where she preserves century-old Kuchipudi source material. Dr. Jonnalagadda is also a prolific author and editor, having penned one book and edited six volumes on South Indian art and dance, significantly enriching the literature on Kuchipudi. She founded the dance school 'Nrityaantika'. As a mentor, she has trained over 30 batches of postgraduate students and guided numerous PhD scholars, including 11 who have completed their research under her supervision. In March 2026, she was appointed as the first woman interim Vice-Chancellor of the University of Hyderabad, a testament to her extensive academic and artistic experience spanning over three decades. Awards & Honours: Gold medal at Kalajyothi festival, Aditya Vikram Birla Award, Nrithya Saraswathi Award (2015), Padmasri Dr. Sobha Naidu Lifetime Achievement Award.