anugraha sridhar
Anugraha Sridhar is a Bharathanrityam artiste, teacher, and Carnatic vocalist whose practice bridges the classical and the contemporary. Based in New Jersey, she is a senior disciple of Padmavibhushan Dr. Padma Subrahmanyam and the founder of Anugraha Arts – Centre for Bharathanrityam. Her work is rooted in the 108 Karanas—ancient sculptural dance movements—reimagined through a modern lens for global audiences.
Anugraha’s performances and pedagogy span India, the United States, and Europe. She has performed and taught in Paris, Madrid, Barcelona, and London, and at esteemed venues such as Alvin Ailey Dance Theater, Jamaica Arts Center, Capitol Hill (Washington D.C.), and The Music Academy (Chennai). Her artistry was further recognized by the Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR), which invited her to tour South Africa alongside her guru.
As a senior collaborator with New York’s Jiva Dance, Anugraha contributes to innovative choreography and movement research. She mentors dancers across the U.S., focusing on advanced body conditioning and expressive technique. A trained Carnatic vocalist, she has also contributed to Tamil film music as a playback singer. Anugraha holds a Master’s degree in Public Policy from the University of Sydney and continues to explore how ancient form can spark contemporary reflection.
abstract
Karanas: Nāṭyaśāstra Pedagogy for Training the Dancing Body
Workshop
This interactive workshop invites dancers—across all forms and traditions—to explore the expressive power of the body through the lens of the Nāṭyaśāstra, with a focus on the Karanas and foundational principles from the Mārga tradition. Participants will engage in body conditioning, learn select Charis and Karanas, and discover how these ancient movement vocabularies can expand contemporary classical practice. Through guided exercises, creative exploration, and demonstration in Bharatanrityam, the session offers practical tools for enhancing storytelling, character development, and full-body expression—bridging theory and practice, tradition and innovation, and supporting dancers in moving with greater clarity, purpose, and depth.