Vidya Kotamraju

🪔 About

Vidya Kotamraju is a dance artist, choreographer, and educator based on the unceded territories of the Musqueam, Squamish, and Tsleil-Waututh Nations (Vancouver). She is the founder of House of Indian Dance, a platform for teaching and developing culturally rooted movement practice, with a mission to break barriers in Indian dance, one step at a time. Her choreography reimagines Bharatanatyam* for contemporary audiences, blending classical rigor with global music, storytelling, and emotionally charged performance. Her work explores themes of identity, migration, and resilience, crafting vivid journeys that bridge tradition and innovation. Guided by her mother, Manju Rao, Vidya began performing in India as both a soloist and ensemble dancer. Since moving to Canada, her journey spans from her Arangetram** at the Frederic Wood Theatre (UBC) to performances at the Vancouver International Dance Festival (Longing...), Diwali in BC (Shyama), Echo Her Series, and the Thousand Faces Festival (Maktub: Ashes to Alchemy). Vidya has performed as a soloist and ensemble member with Mandala Arts and Culture, including in The Temptation of Buddha and The Monk and the Courtesan. Her performances extend to civic and cultural events, including for the Mayor at Vancouver City Hall, North Shore Women’s Centre’s Crimson Cabaret, The Dance Centre’s Silk Route Festival, Wish150: A Long Way Home exhibit, Namaste Canada, PNE’s Spirit of India Festival, and the Vancouver Cultural Olympiad, among others. She has been an Artist-in-Residence at The Dance Centre and is a recipient of the Shade of Hope Award. She is rooted in training under Jai Govinda (Canada), Bragha Bessell (India), and Sheila Kumar (India). Offstage, Vidya has served on the boards of New Works and Mandala Arts and Culture for several years, and continues to balance her artistic practice with a career in the tech industry. Vidya acknowledges and is grateful to live and create on the unceded territories of the Musqueam, Squamish, and Tsleil-Waututh Nations.