Anita Menon

🪔 About

Anita Menon was a world-class Bharatanatyam dancer, choreographer, and Nattuvanar (cymbal player) recognized as a leading exponent of the art form. She grew up in India and received her training from the acclaimed Bharatanatyam guru, Chitra Visveswaran, studying for 10 years and also learning Nattuvangam. Menon immigrated to the United States in 1994 and moved to Oregon in 1995. In Portland, Oregon, she founded the Anjali School of Dance (ASOD) in 1995, serving as its Founder and Artistic Director until 2017. Her vision for ASOD was to increase awareness of Indian classical dance as a refined storytelling medium, offering innovative choreography and unique productions that made the ancient dance form relevant to contemporary youth. Menon's approach was distinct, blending classical techniques with inventive storytelling, which appealed to diverse audiences globally. She choreographed Indian adaptations of Western stories such as "Red Riding Hood," "Pegasus," and "Wizard of Oz," and set traditional Bharatanatyam to Western classical music, including Beethoven's 5th Symphony. She also directed Indian adaptations of classical Western plays, notably Shakespeare's "A Midsummer Night's Dream" and Agatha Christie's "Murder on the Ganges." Menon collaborated extensively with the Northwest Children's Theater on productions like "The Jungle Book," "Chitra: The Girl Prince," and "Tenali: The Royal Trickster." Her work on "The Jungle Book" earned her a Drammy Award for Outstanding Choreographer in the 2019-2020 season. Anita Menon performed globally in the United States, India, France, the United Kingdom, Malaysia, and Singapore. Committed to community engagement, she served on the boards of various arts organizations, including the Northwest Children's Theater, the Regional Arts and Culture Council (RACC), and Theater for Young Audiences/USA (TYA/USA). She was the first Asian American to receive the prestigious Regional Arts and Culture Council's Performing Arts Fellowship in 2014. Other accolades include the Oregon Folklife Network Folk & Traditional Arts Apprenticeship in 2016 and inclusion on the Oregon Culture Keepers Roster. After more than 24 years in Portland, she relocated to Sacramento, California, and later to Houston, Texas. Anita Menon passed away on June 3, 2025, in India, after a battle with Stage 4 gastrointestinal cancer, leaving a lasting legacy through her art and numerous students. Awards & Honours: Regional Arts and Culture Council's Performing Arts Fellowship (2014), Oregon Folklife Network Folk & Traditional Arts Apprenticeship (2016), Drammy Award for Outstanding Choreographer for "The Jungle Book" (2019).