Susheela Pai

🪔 About

Susheela Pai is an accomplished Indian classical dancer, instructor, and a leading figure in movement therapy, based in Kochi, India. She is the founder and artistic director of Mudra Centre for Dance, an institution established around 2009 that offers holistic training in various art forms. Pai's extensive dance training encompasses multiple styles. She received her Bharatanatyam education in the Kalakshetra style under Smt Vijayasangeetha. Her Kathak training was under Smt Deepali Vichare, and she has also completed several levels at the Gandharva Vidhyalaya in Mumbai. Additionally, she trained in modern dance with Mrs. Padma Menon and honed her contemporary and jazz skills at Shiamak Davar's Centre for Performing Arts, Mumbai. Her repertoire also includes Bollywood and Bellydance. Beyond her role as a dance educator, Susheela Pai is a certified Creative Movement Therapy trainer, holding certifications from the Creative Movement Therapy Association of India (CMTAI) and the Council of Dance Paris, France. She actively conducts movement therapy workshops for diverse groups, including corporate professionals, homemakers, NGOs, and students, emphasizing the profound connection between physical movement and mental well-being. She has collaborated with various non-governmental organizations such as Amaara Foundation, MAD, Bodhini, and The Art Outreach Society to provide creative movement sessions to underprivileged and abused individuals. Pai's career began as a primary teacher at The Choice School in Tripunithura, where she managed co-curricular activities and taught Environmental Science. Her passion for the arts extends to literature, making her a member of Magic Theater, an initiative dedicated to promoting theatre among children in Kochi. She is also a co-founder of the Amaara Foundation, an NGO focused on empowering children and youth.