Biography

Anjal Chande is an inspired dance artist, eager to take bharatanatyam on a journey across many artistic dimensions. Anjal seeks to create work that speaks to the current times and a diverse locality by bringing together innovative choreography, compelling ideas, and imaginative music in her spirited dance performances. She carries a unique perspective on bharatanatyam as a 2nd generation Indian-American practitioner, and her artistic vision is making a remarkable contribution to the field.

She is the founder and director of Soham Dance Space, which offers instruction in bharatanatyam dance to adults and children in Chicago and Palos Park. Emphasizing artistry, integrity, and innovation, Anjal aims to uphold the practice, appreciation, and development of a compelling Indian art form while passionately promoting the arts and arts education at large.

Anjal has performed worldwide in the United States, Canada, Trinidad, and India, receiving numerous awards and critical acclaim. Most recently, Anjal was awarded the Community Arts Assistance Program (CAAP) grant by the Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs to help fund the creation of her original solo dance repertoire.

While bharatanatyam remains Anjal’s primary medium of art, her agility of movement has no boundaries. She is a distinct artist known for her genuine philosophical inquiries, captivating abhinaya, precise rhythmic sense, and dynamic movement technique. Showcasing her creativity across many art forms including poetry, media, and music, she has especially demonstrated her thoughtful musicianship through the creation and direction of original music for all of her performance repertoire.

Anjal trained under Smt. Hema Rajagopalan of Natya Dance Theatre in Chicago and later under renowned gurus of Chennai, India: Bhagwatula Sri Seetharam Sarma of Kalakshetra, Smt. Jayanthi Subramaniam, and Smt. Bragha Bessell. Through an intensive course at Madras University, Anjal studied the Natya Shastra, a quintessential treatise on performance art. She is a proficient tabla player, having learned from Raju Deshmukh of Chicago and renowned Pandit Swapan Chaudhuri at the Ali Akbar College of Music in San Rafael, California. Anjal graduated from New York University where she further considered the importance of the arts in society.  

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