Mridula Anand

🪔 About

Mridula Anand is a distinguished Bharatanatyam exponent and a devoted disciple of the renowned Padmashree Professor Sudharani Raghupathy. Her foundational training in classical Indian dance has led to a significant career both as a performer and an educator. Anand has graced numerous major dance festivals across Chennai and other parts of India, performing under prestigious banners. She was also instrumental in organizing and performing in the multi-city U.S. tour of the acclaimed dance production 'Krishnam Vande Jagat Gurum' in 2007. Beyond her artistic pursuits, Mridula Anand holds a strong academic background, with an undergraduate degree in Biochemistry and a graduate degree in Zoology from the University of Madras, Chennai. She further pursued a Master's in Molecular Biology from Stanford University, USA, in 2005. Her professional journey also includes research work at the University of Pittsburgh, PA, and the Indian School of Business, Hyderabad. Currently, she is an Innovation and IP researcher with a Law Degree. Anand's commitment to promoting classical Indian arts is evident in her role as the Cultural Chairperson at the Sri Venkateswara Temple, Pittsburgh, USA, from 2006 to 2007, where she organized concerts by leading artists and pioneered the adaptation of compositions to dance for various Aradhanas. In 2005, Mridula Anand founded her dance institution, 'Silambam,' in Pittsburgh, USA, with the aim of perpetuating the unique Sree Bharatalaya tradition of Bharatanatyam. Following her relocation to Hyderabad, India, in mid-2008, she established Silambam in Hyderabad in November 2008, which has since expanded to two branches. The school follows a comprehensive syllabus, modeled after the Imperial Society for Teachers of Dance (ISTD) Bharatanatyam curriculum, encompassing history, theory, fitness, technique, music, and rhythm. She has successfully guided many students through their Arangetrams and continues to impart her knowledge through lecture demonstrations. Awards & Honours: Award for Excellence (2000), Bharata Kala Bhushana (2002), Yuva Kala Bharati (2009).