Anil Kumar S

🪔 About

Anilkumar Sukumara Pillai, also known as Guru Anil Natyaveda, is a prominent Indian classical and contemporary dance figure, choreographer, teacher, and an expert martial artist in Kalarippayattu. Originally from Thiruvananthapuram, India, he is the Co-Director of SINDHOOR & NATYAVEDA - Navarasa Dance Theater. Anil Kumar trained extensively in both Northern and Southern Kerala styles of Kalarippayattu under gurus Govindan Kutti Gurukal, Chellappan Aasan, and Babu Raj Gurukal, mastering both forms. He also received training in classical, contemporary, and aerial dance forms, and studied with Vembayam Appukuttan and Sasidharan Asan. He holds a degree in dance from Sree Swathithirunal Music College, India, and a teacher-training degree in Dance under Project Sakrthaya. Anil Kumar has been a professional dancer since 1991 and has taught dance and martial arts in the U.S., Canada, and India for over 15 years. His performance venues include international festivals such as the Edinburgh Dance Festival, Germany International Summer Theatre Festival, Hong Kong Art Festival, Khajuraho Dance Festival, and Singapore Arts Festival, as well as numerous universities across the U.S. He has choreographed for cinema, including the Malayalam film "Anandabadhram" by Santhosh Sivan. Currently, he teaches in Los Angeles and San Jose, California, U.S., and online. Along with Dr. Aparna Sindhoor, he co-directs Navarasa's "Dance for Everyone" program, which provides free dance and martial arts training to over 200 children and adults in the US, India, and online, with chapters in Kerala and Karnataka, India, and Los Angeles, CA, USA. Awards & Honours: Natyaratnam, Meena Srinivasan Memorial Award, Master-Apprentice Award, India Darshan National Integration Award.