Mridula Anand

🪔 About

Mridula Anand is a distinguished Bharatanatyam exponent, performer, and educator, known for her dedication to promoting Indian classical dance both in India and abroad. She is a devoted disciple of the renowned Bharatanatyam guru Padmashree Professor Sudharani Raghupathy. Anand has performed extensively at major dance festivals in Chennai and across India, earning critical acclaim for her performances. She was honored with the 'Award for Excellence' in 2000 by Sri Parthasarathy Swami Sabha and the title 'Bharata Kala Bhushana' in 2002 during the 32nd anniversary celebrations of Sree Bharatalaya. In 2009, she received the prestigious 'Yuva Kala Bharati'. Beyond her performing career, Mridula Anand is a passionate educator. She founded her dance institution, 'Silambam', in Pittsburgh, USA, in 2005, 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 institution is also known as Mridula Center for Arts. She has been actively teaching and performing Bharatanatyam for over 25 years, employing various pedagogies to engage students and expand their understanding of the art form. Anand has also contributed to the cultural landscape through various initiatives. She served as the Cultural Chairperson at the Sri Venkateswara Temple in Pittsburgh, USA, from 2006 to 2007, where she organized concerts by leading artists and pioneered the adaptation of compositions to dance for various Aradhanas. She was instrumental in organizing and performing in the multi-city U.S. tour of the acclaimed dance production 'Krishnam Vande Jagat Gurum' in 2007. Additionally, Mridula Anand is an accomplished vocalist and was a member of the Indian classical music group "SWARANJALI." Her academic background includes an undergraduate degree in Biochemistry and a graduate degree in Zoology from the University of Madras, Chennai, and a Master's in Molecular Biology from Stanford University, USA, in 2005. She has also worked as a researcher and is currently an Innovation and IP researcher with a Law Degree. Awards & Honours: Award for Excellence (2000), Bharata Kala Bhushana (2002), Yuva Kala Bharati (2009).