About Austin Dance India
Austin Dance India’s (ADI) mission is to empower through dance. Since 1990, ADI has become Austin’s premiere organization and resource for Indian classical Bharata Natyam dance. Under the Artistic Direction of independent dancer/choreographer, Anuradha Naimpally, ADI strives to bring the highest quality dance to the stage through an accessible presentation style. Naimpally’s vision to bring Bharata Natyam to wide audiences has been at the foundation of its many successful projects including Girl Power! presented at The Long Center highlighting the UN Sustainable Development Goals, Breaking the Binary, exploring gender and sexuality in Hindu mythology, and Sacred Earth Stories, a production on intersectional environmentalism. Her mentoring work through traditional dance with South Asian youth is captured in the PBS series, Arts in Context, in an episode entitled Lift the Heart.
For 35 years, Austin Dance India has been a home for the study, practice, and performance of Bharata Natyam. ADI has guided and mentored generations of students from beginner through professional levels, including intensive, traditional arangetram (debut performance) training.
Now, 35 years later, ADI has evolved its role. While the school is no longer accepting new students, the organization is focusing its energy on arts in education initiatives, workshops, community events, and professional productions. This transition reflects ADI’s continued commitment to empowering through dance by expanding access to Bharata Natyam, fostering dialogue, and sharing the depth and relevance of the form with wider and more diverse audiences while remaining steadfast in its mission of authentic cultural representation.
Purna Bajekal
Assistant Artistic Director
Purna Bajekal began dancing at Slavin-Nadal School of Ballet at age 3 and started Bharata Natyam at age 6 with her mother, Smt. Anuradha Naimpally, Artistic Director of Austin Dance India (ADI). Purna studied multi-forms of dance throughout her childhood at Tapestry Dance Company including tap, ballet, jazz, and modern. In 2009, Purna began teaching classes at ADI.
Purna has had the opportunity to tour and perform in the US, Canada, Mexico, and India. In 2011, Purna was a part of Parampara, which was awarded the coveted Best Dance Concert award by the Austin Critics' Circle and was named by the Austin Chronicle as one of the top five performances of 2011. In 2012, Purna completed her solo performance or arangetram, marking her debut as a professional. In 2013, her performance Two Generations, One Tradition with her mother was nominated for Best Duet Performance by the Austin Critics' Circle. In 2013, she also presented a full-length solo performance in Mumbai, India. In 2014, she was a part of the ADI Heritage Tour of twenty dancers, performing at seven historic temples throughout south India. For ADI’s 25th anniversary in 2016, Purna co-directed Girl Power!, a production at The Long Center promoting the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.
As Assistant Artistic Director of Austin Dance India, Purna serves as an instructor, choreographer, and performer, while also supporting behind-the-scenes production and organizational work that brings ADI’s artistic vision to life.
After experiencing the transformative power of dance in her own life, Purna became interested in using movement as a therapeutic modality. She holds a Master’s in Clinical Mental Health Counseling and Somatic Counseling Dance Movement Therapy and currently owns her own therapy practice.
Anuradha Naimpally
Artistic Director
Raised by art-loving Indian parents in Canada, Anuradha has the best of many worlds. Her western upbringing along with her traditional training in India and deep-rooted spirituality make her a unique teacher and performer who connects with people from across the globe. She relates easily to both ancient and contemporary cultural and artistic traditions and has been performing worldwide for over 35 years. She is a 2018 inductee into the Austin Arts Hall of Fame for her contributions to the dance field. In 1989 she was awarded the prestigious Jacqueline LeMieux Prize by the Canada Council, making her the only Indian classical dancer to receive this high honor. She has been given the title of Sringar Mani, “Artistic Jewel” from the Kal-Ke-Kalakaar Festival in Mumbai, Mayura Natya Tarakai, and International Nritya Shiromani award.
With an Honors BA in Philosophy and a Master of Fine Arts in Dance Ethnology, Anuradha combines artistry with scholarship. Numerous study grants and honors have allowed her to continue research and study of ancient Sanskrit texts. She received several grants from the Canada Council as well as the Shastri Indo-Canadian Institute. She has taught at numerous colleges and universities in Central Texas including University of Texas at Austin, St. Edward’s, Southwestern, and Austin Community College. Her expertise has been utilized on many juries including the Texas Commission on the Arts Young Masters Program and the Canada Council as well as community and college organizations.
Austin Dance India Ensemble
The ADI Ensemble is comprised of select ADI students, who perform professionally throughout Austin as well as at community events. The ADI Ensemble also offers community workshops and over the years has collaborated with local dance companies and organizations, including Tapestry Dance Company, Early Era Dance Company, Andrea Ariel Dance Theatre, Austin Opera, and Toni Bravo. Feel free to reach out if you’d like Austin Dance India at your next event!
