Samyukta Chillara

🪔 About

Samyukta Chillara is an accomplished Bharatanatyam dancer and teacher with a strong foundation in Indian classical dance. Her journey in classical dance commenced in 2001. Chillara received her initial training in the Tanjavur style of Bharatanatyam under eminent gurus in Chennai, India, where she learned and practiced choreographies set to the compositions of K.N. Dandhayudhapani Pillai. During her formative years, she actively participated in numerous group performances held at prominent venues across Chennai and Mahabalipuram. Her comprehensive training continued at Shankarananda Kalakshetra in Hyderabad, where she delved into the Kalakshetra style under the tutelage of her guru, Dr. Ananda Shankar Jayant. This holistic training encompassed aesthetics, music, choreography, theory, and body conditioning. As an ensemble member of Shankarananda Kalakshetra, Chillara was part of acclaimed productions such as 'Nrithyopahara', 'Kavyanjali', and 'Tales from the Bull and the Tiger', which were staged in various Indian cities including Hyderabad, Bangalore, Trivandrum, Chennai, and New Delhi. She was specifically noted as a dancer in the ensemble for 'Nrityopahara' in Thiruvananthapuram in March 2019. Furthermore, she completed a certificate course in Bharatanatyam under Smt. Neeraja Kaja at the Potti Sreeramulu Telugu University. Samyukta Chillara is also dedicated to the study and practice of 'marga nritta karanas' as described in the Natyashastra and elucidated by Dr. Padma Subramanyam. She has performed Bharatanatyam internationally, including a full performance at the Festival RASĀ, Danza y Música Clásica de la India, in Barcelona in January 2026. Chillara has also contributed to teaching, having taught junior classes for one year at Shankarananda Kalakshetra. She is associated with NYSA (Natya Yukta), which is described as a cultural hub for Indian performing arts offering classes and workshops. Her artistic passion lies in studying, understanding, and teaching the unique movement vocabulary of Indian classical dance.