Chitra Kalyandurg is a performer and choreographer based in Maryland. Her artistic inspiration comes from sharing Kuchipudi through a multi-disciplinary, collaborative lens, creating ensemble work that helps connect diverse audiences to the themes present in classical Indian dance. Trained under Anuradha Nehru, Kalyandurg performs both as a solo artist and with the Bethesda-based dance company Kalanidhi Dance. Her original work includes The Nayika Project, a dance-theater piece that blends hip hop with Kuchipudi, and Leela: Play of the Divine. Notable performances with Kalanidhi Dance include Rasa at the Ananya Festival, Yaatra at Joyce SoHo, and Lallah Roukh at the Kennedy Center and Lincoln Center. Kalyandurg has performed at festivals around the country, among them the first ever Drive East Festival in New York City. She also served as choreographer for Adventure Theater MTC’s Helen Hayes-nominated production The Jungle Book. Kalyandurg has received multiple grants from the Arts and Humanities Council of Montgomery County and is the recipient of the prestigious Princess Grace Dance Honoraria for her artistic excellence in Kuchipudi. Kalyandurg is currently a Master of Public Policy candidate at the University of Maryland, where she is focusing on nonprofit management, leadership, and the arts.