Chitra Arvind

 Choreographer – Movement artist – Teacher – Performer

Recipient of

• Federation of Karnataka Chambers of Commerce and Industry – FKCCI Social Woman Entrepreneur Award 2023
• Best Dance Choreographer Award – Azadi Ki Amrit Mahotsav 2022
• Best Performer Award Bharatanatyam, Parthasarathy Swami Sabha Chennai 2019
• IIDF Contemporary Dance Award 2016
• National Nrithya Shiromani Award Kathak, Cuttack Mahotsav 2013
• Young Achiever Award for Dance & Choreography Lions Club International 2011
• Best Dancer Award Nupura 2001

Founder and Artistic Director of Rhythmotion since 2008, Empaneled artist of Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR), Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India, Graded artist of Doordarshan (Indian Television), Chitra Arvind was initiated into dance at the age of seven and has since continued her journey in Bharatanatyam, Kathak and Contemporary dance.

Practicing and imparting dance education and body conditioning sessions for more than three decades, Chitra Arvind represents a vibrant new generation of dance makers. Her approach to choreography is ingenious, fresh and inspiring. She blends Indian dance culture with highly individual sounds of the artists to produce works that are innovative and bang up-to-date. Chitra’s love and passion for dance is seen in her works created at Rhythmotion.

Chitra has been Cultural Ambassador to South Korea, sponsored by ICCR where The Rhythmotion Dance Company performed Indian Classical and Contemporary dance as part of the prestigious Busan International Dance Festival 2018. She was appointed as jury member for AK21 Performance for Development of International Choreographer BIDF 2018.

She has been invited to conduct workshops in Choreography and Indian Classical dance techniques at the University of California, Irvine; School for Ballet and Rhythmic, Croatia and for the hearing and speech impaired students at SUVAG Polyclinic, Zagreb, Croatia.

Chitra was invited to work in London for several years with leading contemporary dance choreographers including Shobana Jeyasingh, Wayne Mc Gregor and Laurie Booth as a performer, teacher and rehearsal director. There, she had the opportunity to acquire skills in the Indian martial art forms of Kalaripayattu and Chhau; Modern dance techniques including Graham, Cunningham and Release; and has studied Choreography from the Place Theatre, London. She has choreographed many dance productions in Indian Classical and Contemporary dance styles and has toured the UK, USA. Europe, South Korea, South East Asia and South Africa extensively and won accolades for her performances.

Trained in Bharatanatyam under Guru Dr. Lalitha Srinivasan, she also had the opportunity to learn from Guru B.Bhanumati and Guru Smt. Padmini Ravi. A rank holder in BA Choreography from the Natya Institute of Kathak and Choreography, Bangalore, she trained in Kathak under Guru Dr. Maya Rao, Guru Smt. Chitra Venugopal; and Sri Maulik Shah and Smt. Ishira Parikh, Ahmedabad.

Chitra trained in Carnatic Vocal and Instrument Veena under the able guidance of her mother Smt. Rama Srishailan. She holds a Masters degree in History from the Karnataka State Open University. She has worked with eminent dance gurus and choreographers and has performed at various prestigious dance festivals in India and abroad.

Chitra imparts dance education to the hearing and speech impaired students of SKID, Bangalore. Through the Rhythmotion Trust she curates Chalana-dance for a Cause, a Classical and Contemporary dance and Music festival in aid of the Deaf Aid Society that premiered in 2008.

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