Parvatha Chidambaram

Artistic Director · Bharata School of Dance & Music

Parvatha Chidambaram is the Artistic Director of Bharata School of Dance & Music — a 25-year-old school of Indian Classical Dance and Music in Rochester, NY. She underwent 11 years of rigorous training in Bharata Nrityam and Carnatic Music and graduated in theory, practical, teacher's training, and nattuvangam (playing the cymbals) courses.

Parvatha gave up her career as a creative director in advertising and became a full-time performer, choreographer and dance teacher. Understanding the intricacies of these art forms enabled her to explore beyond the confined boundaries of her traditional art forms.

She was featured as one of "The Changemakers" at the Rochester Museum of Science, which highlighted the actions of area women from diverse backgrounds who were innovators, creators, organizers, and leaders — whose life or work was transformative or impactful in ways that inspire and empower others to shape a better future.

In eagerness to bridge the gap between theory and practice, Parvatha has developed her own pedagogy and trained many students to spread the knowledge of these beautiful art forms amongst the younger generations in the US.

Selected Performances & Works

• ✦ The Dance Festival of India in Thailand
• ✦ "Light of Asia" — a musical on the life of Buddha
• ✦ Documentary: Identity Through Art
• ✦ Raga & Ragini at Memorial Art Gallery, Rochester
• ✦ Guru Samarpanam — India
• ✦ Hari Hara Smaranam — India & Rochester
• ✦ Raadha Samedha — India
• ✦ Anvaya (The Binding Thread) — India
• ✦ Collaborative productions with Irish, Puerto Rican & Tap dancers
• ✦ Bharata Annual Performances at Hochstein