Kali Futnani

🪔 About

Kali Futnani is a prominent Indian classical dancer and teacher specializing in Bharatanatyam, with a career spanning over 40 years. She began her extensive training at Kalanjali Dances of India in Berkeley, California, an institution known for teaching the authentic classical form of Bharatanatyam in the tradition of Kalakshetra College of Fine Arts. Furthering her education in the art form, Futnani graduated with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Dance and Choreography from the esteemed Kalakshetra College of Fine Arts in Chennai, India. Following her graduation, she joined the Chennai branch of Kalanjali, where she honed her skills and deepened her understanding of Bharatanatyam for a decade. Upon her return to the San Francisco Bay Area, Kali Futnani continued her dedication to dance, teaching and performing with Kalanjali Dances of India for many years. She also pursued higher education, earning a BA from Mills College in Sociology and Economics and a Master of City Planning (MCP) from UC Berkeley. Futnani is a dedicated educator, currently teaching Bharatanatyam at the Mahea Uchiyama Center for International Dance in Berkeley, where she offers classes for various age groups and skill levels, including beginner and advanced beginner children. She also plays a key administrative role for Kalanjali Dances of India, managing registration and payments for the school, which has been introducing generations of Indo-American children to their cultural heritage for decades. Demonstrating her commitment to perpetuating the Kalakshetra style of Bharatanatyam, Kali Futnani founded her own institution, the Kali Dance Academy, to continue this tradition. Her work includes coaching mudras (hand motions) and her youth dancers from Kalanjali have been featured guest artists in various performances, such as the Making History Concert in 2022. She has also been a featured dancer in numerous public performances, including a "Passage to India" concert with the Kalanjali Dance Company at Ashkenaz in 2017.