Anila Kumari
Kuchipudi Performer • Teacher
38+
Years of Experience
1+
Students Taught
1
Followers
About
Anila Kumari is an acclaimed Kuchipudi dancer, scholar, and educator, born in Madison, Wisconsin, in 1969. She began her dance training at a very young age, belonging to the artistic lineage of her mother and teacher, Nilimma Devi. Her illustrious Kuchipudi gurus include Prahlad Vedantam Sarma, Jaganath Vedantam Sarma, and Dr. Nataraja Ramakrishna. Kumari…
Journey Timeline
1969
Born — Born in Madison, Wisconsin
1986
National Junior Competition First Place Award
1988
Sutradhar Institute of Dance and Related Arts founded; began teaching there
1989
Developed mindfulness dance program for inner-city youth
1994
Individual Artist Award — Awarded by Maryland State Arts Council
2012
Master Apprenticeship Award — Awarded by Maryland State Arts Council
2017
Interviewed by NEA Magazine
2018
Article "From the Diary of Sita" published — In "In Search of Sita" anthology, Penguin Books
2020-2021
Innovated virtual programming during COVID-19 pandemic
2021
Wrote and hosted virtual storytelling for Diwali — In partnership with Sackler Gallery, Smithsonian, with a Kuchipudi performance with Riya Devi-Ashby
2021
Organized "Pandemic Hues" virtual gallery
2021
Organized student group "Youth Leadership Across an Ocean"
2021
Shakti Youth Fundraiser established — For Shanti Bhavan school
2023
Sutradhar Dance Company performed internationally — At the Anapale International Dance Festival
Photo Gallery
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Video Library
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Signature Performances
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Performance Map
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Awards & Honors
- 1986 · National Junior Competition First Place Award
- 1994 · Individual Artist Award — Maryland State Arts Council
- 2012 · Master Apprenticeship Award — Maryland State Arts Council
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Dance School
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Students
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