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Yamini Kalluri is an internationally acclaimed Indian crossover and traditional dancer, choreographer, educator, and Founder of Kritya Foundation. Specializing in Kuchipudi, ballet, and Graham Technique, she creates original work that bridges Indian classical dance with Western movement practices and live classical music. She has performed at prestigious venues including 92nd Street Y, Davies Symphony Hall, Wolf Trap, and Jones Hall, and is recognized for expanding the possibilities of classical dance through innovative collaborations, original choreography, and cross-cultural dialogue while honoring the depth and integrity of tradition.
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About
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Yamini Kalluri is an internationally acclaimed Indian crossover and traditional dancer, choreographer, educator, and artistic director whose work reimagines Indian classical dance through collaborations with orchestras, chamber musicians, and artists across cultures. Specializing in Kuchipudi, ballet, and Graham Technique, she creates original work that bridges Indian classical dance with Western movement practices and live classical music, cultivating an artistic language that is both deeply rooted in tradition and strikingly contemporary.
Based between the United States and India, Yamini's artistic journey began in Hyderabad under the legendary Padmasri Dr. Sobha Naidu, where she displayed exceptional talent from a young age. She later expanded her training by studying ballet and Graham Technique at the prestigious Martha Graham School in New York while earning a Bachelor's degree in Humanities & Social Sciences from Indira Gandhi National Open University. In 2026, Yamini collaborated with A.R. Rahman on his Symphonic Tour, performing alongside the San Francisco Symphony Orchestra, National Symphony Orchestra, and Houston Symphony Orchestra. These performances took place in some of America's most distinguished concert halls, including Davies Symphony Hall, Wolf Trap National Park for the Performing Arts, and Jones Hall for the Performing Arts, establishing her as one of the few Indian classical dancers actively collaborating with major Western symphony orchestras. Her performances and choreographic work have been presented at renowned venues including 92nd Street Y, Symphony Space, Mechanics Hall, Davies Symphony Hall, Wolf Trap, and Jones Hall. She has collaborated with leading composers, musicians, string quartets, and orchestras in creating new interdisciplinary works that foster meaningful dialogue between Indian classical dance and Western classical music. As the Founder and Artistic Director of Kritya Foundation, Kritya Dance Ensemble, and Kritya Music Ensemble, Yamini leads an international platform dedicated to performance, education, original choreography, musical collaboration, and artistic innovation. Through Kritya, she mentors students and collaborators across the United States, Europe, and India while championing new possibilities for Indian classical dance through cross-cultural dialogue and artistic experimentation. Her pioneering work has received international recognition, including interviews with The New York Times and BBC Radio as one of the youngest emerging Kuchipudi artists. As an educator, she has been invited to teach at institutions including the Mark Morris Dance Center, Martha Graham School, and universities and festivals internationally, inspiring a new generation of dancers through her rigorous yet imaginative pedagogy. Yamini's choreographic commissions with the Asian American Ballet Project and Music Worcester reflect her commitment to creating original works that honor classical traditions while embracing contemporary artistic perspectives. She is the recipient of the Pandit Jasraj Scholarship, personally awarded by Pt. Jasraj, and the Katta Sarojini Devi Gold Medal, presented by her guru, recognizing her dedication to artistic excellence. Deeply committed to the inseparable relationship between music and dance, Yamini continues her advanced training in Carnatic vocal music under Asha Ramesh and Carnatic mridangam under Harsha Mandayam Bharathi. As Artistic Director of the Kritya Music Ensemble, she actively develops original musical arrangements and compositions for dance productions, believing that musical fluency is fundamental to choreographic expression. |
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