Director
Anjal Chande is a spirited dance artist and teacher, eager to see Bharatanatyam grow and thrive in Chicago’s cultural community and beyond. Born and raised in Illinois, Anjal has a youthful and local perspective on this art form of universal and timeless appeal. In keeping alive a beautiful and deep tradition as it weaves into the fabric of the current times and this diverse locality, Anjal Chande seeks to create work that speaks from the heart of here and now and bring Bharatanatyam to broader audiences. As a teacher who is committed to lifelong learning, exploration, and performance of Bharatanatyam, Anjal wishes to instill in students a curiosity for India’s profound culture and a passion for creative expression through the arts.
Anjal has had extensive training and experience in Bharatanatyam since the age of seven. She has studied under Smt. Hema Rajagopalan of Natya Dance Theatre and recently under renowned gurus of Chennai, India, including Bhagavatula Seetharam Sharma, Smt. Jayanthi Subramaniam, and Smt. Bragha Bessel. Her interest in the theory and technique of performance art has been kindled through a course at Madras University on the great Natya Shastra, an ancient treatise on performance art. Steeped in the study of Vedantic scriptures throughout her childhood at Chinmaya Mission Chicago, Anjal's knowledge goes beyond this dance form to encompass the philosophy that pervades Indian culture, arts, and spirituality. A graduate of New York University, Anjal spent four years in the compelling cultural hub of New York City where she further considered of the importance of the arts in society.
For more information about Anjal, please visit www.anjalchande.com.