Smt Sudha Shekhar Devulapalli
Artistic director
Sudha Devulapalli is the Founder and Artistic Director of the Kalanjali School of Dance, a 27-year old Bharatnatyam dance academy based in New Jersey.
A Bharatnatyam and Kuchipudi dancer, choreographer and artistic director, Sudha has received diplomas in both Kathak and Bharatnatyam from the Prayag University in Allahabad, India. A disciple of Smt. Sumathy Kaushal and Dr. K. Uma Ramarao of Hyderabad, in Bharatnatyam and Kuchipudi, Sudha established Kalanjali School of Dance in May 1997 with the aim of exposing students to the rich Indian mythology, culture and heritage of India. She further received advanced training from Padmashree Adyar K. Lakshman.
Since founding Kalanjali, more than 500 students have successfully completed their Bharatnatyam course and 90 students have completed their Arangetram. Kalanjali also has a unique affiliation with SAMVED Conservatory, which conducts exams for students to receive diplomas and higher matriculations in Indian classical art forms throughout North America by senior professors in the field of arts. More than 100 students of Kalanjali have received their diploma in Bharatanatyam through SAMVED.
Sudha’s proficiency in Bharatanatyam, Kathak and Kuchipudi has enabled her to choreograph some of the most creative dance dramas and semi-classical fusion dances. She has choreographed and staged several original dance dramas such as Vandeham Krishna, Trinetra, Padmavathi Kalyanam, Sita Swayamvaram, Ganesha, Jayadeva’s Dasavatara, Panchali Sabatham, Rati Vilapam, Meera, Shyam Sudha Ras, Four Seasons and the inaugural dances for TANA, ATA, TFAS, TTA, NATS conferences.
Sudha has also actively collaborated with Western dance disciplines. In 2009, she had the opportunity to teach at The Mason Gross School of the Arts at Rutgers University. In 2015, she had the privilege to choreograph for a French Opera - Delibes’s Lakme. In 2019 and 2024, she collaborated with The Axelrod Performing Arts Center and choreographer Gabriel Chajnik on a modern production of The Jungle Book. Her students were featured as part of this Broadway-style production.
Due to her longstanding efforts promoting Indian dance and culture over the past 25 years, Sudha has been felicitated by the Telangana Telugu Association as well as the Telugu Fine Arts Society. In June 2022, the Kalanjali School was awarded a proclamation and a citation by the State of New Jersey for promoting the classical art form of Bharatnatyam which was personally presented to Sudha by Assemblyman Sr. Upendra Chivukula garu.
Sudha has a deep, long standing passion for community service. In October 2022 she established the not-for-profit organization KSD Arts Foundation to teach the art of Bharatnatyam to underprivileged children in India, including students at the Sofkin Orphanage in Hyderabad, India. In June 2022, Sudha was elected as a Board of Trustee for the Telugu Fine Arts Society. She has also served as an Executive Vice President for the Federation of Indian Associations, Tri State and has previously served as the Cultural Chair for the ATA convention in New York and as a Cultural Chair for the March of Dimes, New Jersey Chapter.
About Kalanjali School
The Kalanjali School of Dance was founded by Sudha Shekhar Devulapalli in May 1997 and has achieved many milestones since its birth. The focus of the teachings is to impart Classical Bharatnatyam techniques and thereby using it as a medium to expose the children to Indian mythology, culture and our traditions. The Kalanjali School motto is dance with a purpose and strongly encourages its students to participate in local charity and fundsraising events such as March of dimess, sofkin.org, Public Libraries etc. Today Sudhaji is proud of her second generation Student teachers who are contributing their time to Kalanjali in training younger students.
The Kalanjali School of Dance was founded by Sudha Shekhar Devulapalli in May 1997 and has achieved many milestones since its birth. The focus of the teachings is to impart Classical BN techniques and thereby using it as a medium to expose the children to Indian mythology, culture and our traditions.
Kalanjali has bagged several awards in the semi classical arenas in various dance competitions like the most coveted East Coast Bollywood dance competition Naya Andaz, FIA, Naach Revolution to name a few. A detailed view of Kalanjali’s accomplishments can be found under the Accomplishment Tab.
Testmonials
Prem Sumetpong
Mar 13, 2017
We are so happy to have found Sudhaji and Kalanjali School of Dance. We started with a teacher who then moved to India and after lot of research of Bharatnatyam teachers in the Monmouth and Middlesex counties, we decided on Kalanjali School of Dance.
Bhamidipati Family
May 18, 2017
A Tribute to a Great Dancer! Namaste! Smt.Sudha Shekhar is a great GURU and her greatness as a guru lies in her dreams for others – her STUDENTS! Her meticulous eye for detail never misses the slightest of flaws, and she never ever compromises on quality.