Vandana  Supriya

🪔 About

Dr. Vandana Supriya Kasaravalli is a distinguished Indian classical Odissi dancer, choreographer, and cultural activist based in Bangalore, India. Born on June 9, 1986, in Bangalore to Yashoda and Balraj, she was raised in an environment that fostered creativity and independent thinking. Her early education at Sita School, an unconventional institution, integrated arts and nature into learning. Vandana's journey into dance began at the age of seven when she was introduced to Odissi at the renowned Nrityagram, a dance Gurukul established by Protima Bedi. She pursued a Bachelor's Degree in Psychology, Economics, and Sociology from Mount Carmel College, Bengaluru, between 2005 and 2008. Furthering her dance education, she completed a Diploma in Dance Choreography in 2009 from the Natya Institute of Kathak and Choreography, under the guidance of Dr. Maya Rao and Madhu Natraj. She also honed her craft under Guru Bichitrananda Swain at Rudraksha Foundation, Odisha, and is trained in Kalaripayettu. Vandana joined the STEM Dance Kampni in 2008, where she explored various dance forms including Indian contemporary and Kathak, before establishing herself as an Odissi soloist around 2009. Her performances are noted for their emotional depth and mastery of 'bhava'. In 2013, she founded the Anandi School of Dance in Bengaluru, a center for learning Odissi. Driven by a desire to make classical dance accessible, she established the Anandi Arts Foundation in 2016, which provides free Odissi training to over 150 children from underprivileged backgrounds in government schools and shelter homes. Through her foundation, she also curates annual dance festivals like ASMI and BHAAVA. Dr. Kasaravalli is married to filmmaker Apurva Kasaravalli, son of Padma Shri Girish Kasaravalli, since 2017. She is recognized as a cultural visionary and social educator, using dance as a tool for empowerment and social change. Awards & Honours: Honorary Doctorate, Council of India Award for Art and Culture (2016), Nritya Shiromani, Sanskar Bharati, Odissi Jyothi Awards.