Biography

Anjal Chande is an independent dance artist, eager to see bharatanatyam thrive in Chicago’s cultural community and beyond. Anjal seeks to create work that speaks to the current times and this diverse locality as she brings together innovative choreography, compelling ideas, and original music in her spirited dance performances. She is a distinct artist known for her versatility in movement and her capacity to connect with the audience.
 
Anjal has performed worldwide in the United States, Canada, Trinidad, and India. She has appeared at venues such as the Peter Norton Symphony Space in New York City, Orchestra Hall in Chicago, Jahangir National Gallery of Modern Art in Mumbai, Brahma Gana Sabha, Chinmaya Heritage Center, Narada Gana Sabha, and German Hall in Chennai. She has received artistic acclaim in the New York Times, Nartanam Dance Magazine, Vadalapani Times, India Tribune, Indian Reporter, and India Post.

Most recently, Anjal was awarded the 2009 Community Arts Assistance Program (CAAP) grant by the Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs to help fund the creation of her original solo dance repertoire. She is a recipient of the Illinois Arts Council Grant, the Palos Park Fine Arts Scholarship, the NFAA National Merit Award, and the Platinum Scholarship during the NFAA Regional ARTS Week. Anjal was honored with the “All-Star Maiytra 2006” award by Brihan Maharashtra Mandal at the national youth convention of Indian-Americans held in Chicago. 

Anjal learned bharatanatyam dance from Smt. Hema Rajagopalan of Natya Dance Theatre, Chicago and later studied under renowned gurus of Chennai, India: Bhagwatula Sri Seetharam Sharma of Kalakshetra, Smt. Jayanthi Subramaniam, and Smt. Bragha Bessell. Through an intensive course at Madras University, Anjal has studied the Natya Shastra, a quintessential treatise on performance art.

Complementary to Anjal’s dance prowess, she is a proficient tabla player, having studied with Raju Deshmukh of Chicago and the renowned Pandit Swapan Chaudhuri at the Ali Akbar College of Music in San Rafael, California. Anjal attended New York University where she further considered the importance of the arts in society.