Artistic Director

Nadanta’s Artistic Director, Chaula Thacker, is a lifelong student of Indian classical and folk dance and an internationally recognized innovator in the medium of dance-drama. An accomplished choreographer and dancer, Chaula has performed for audiences in India, the United States, Canada, the Former Soviet Union, Denmark, Spain, (Bali) Indonesia, and Australia.

Her cultural contributions have been recognized by numerous Indian communities, the Michigan Legislature and U.S. government agencies including the Internal Revenue Service, the Immigration and Naturalization Service, the Army Corps of Engineers and the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. She has well over 100 awards for choreography, costume design, direction and performance from many of the most prestigious folk dance competitions on three continents.

Chaula is also a gifted teacher with more than 150 students currently under her tutelage in Classical, Creative and Folk dance as well as Yoga. She has been a faculty member at CCS and has also taught dance courses/master classes at the Wayne State University, Oakland University and Marygrove College.

She has worked with various Public and Private schools for their multicultural activities. She conducted a series of Lecture Demonstrations at 8 Community Colleges in Northern Michigan and Michigan’s Upper Peninsula where such art is not normally seen, under the auspices of the Michigan Global Awareness Consortium (MGAC).

In 2006 Chaula directed the Super Bowl XL multicultural show entitled “Nations in Rhythm Detroit!”. She has also directed “Splendor of the East”, celebrating Asian Pacific American Heritage Month, in 2006 and 2007. PBS Channel 56 will be recorded her creation “Ahimsa” for future broadcast.

As a pioneer in the medium of dance-drama, Chaula has created, choreographed and presented a variety of original musical dance-dramas including: Raas Lila, Roop Garvita, Ramayan, Mohini Bhasmasur, Menka Vishwamitra, Ram ki Vadhai, Images of India, Mela, Meera, Sculptural Images, Ohm Shakti, Triveni, Bharat Ke Rang – Nadanta Ke Sang, Expedition – 95, Shoobh Deepavali, Bharat, Devdasi Chauladevi, Navrang, Prakriti, Satyarth Prakash, Anand Yoga Nirvana, Bharat 2000, and Shiksha – Teachings of the Buddha, Megh-Dhanush, Saptapadi, Nataraj, Ahimsa, Utsav, Panchatantra, Chandraghanta, Rhythms of India, Renaissance Man and India 65.

Chaula is also the author of the book, “An Introduction to Bharat Natyam” and a companion educational video. She also works as a dance and movement therapist for mentally and physically impaired people.

Chaula has a Bachelor’s degree in Dance (Bharat Natyam style) from Gandharva Mahavidyalaya, Bombay and diplomas in North Indian classical vocal music and Indian musical instruments Sitar and Tabla.

Chaula has also studied Karnatic music of South India. She has studied Ballet for 12 years.

Chaula’s Gurus include Shri Shrinivasan Shenoy, a disciple of Acharya Parvatikumar; Shri K. Ramaiah and the late Shreemati Bala Saraswati, “Queen of Abhinaya or Expression”. Her other talents include painting, Japanese Bunka embroidery, photography and videography. She also has a degree in Microbiology.