Anusha Pillay - Artistic Director

Anusha Pillay is a Bharatanatyam practitioner and teacher based in Johannesburg. She studied under the tutelage of Satyabhama and was her senior student, and went on to teach alongside her guru. In 2010 Pillay co-founded Sarvavidya Natyaalaya (SVN), a non-profit dance school based in Johannesburg, where she serves as Artistic Director. As a dance teacher she is committed to finding ways to teach Bharatanatyam through new and innovative methods. Her choreographic works seek to disrupt conventions, while still working within the traditional framework of the artform. She is passionate about womanhood, education, mental health and social justice. Pillay aims to use her artform to communicate, engage, intervene and interrogate these areas of concern, through creative practice. She continues to serve as Artistic Director, head teacher and senior choreographer at Sarvavidya Natyaalaya, and is senior performer for the Sarvavidya Dance Ensemble. Independently, Pillay conducts private Bharatanatyam classes to both local and international students. She creates in the kitchen too, where she makes a delicious array of products through her brand, Chilli Love.

 

Reshma Chhiba - Creative Director

Reshma Chhiba is a visual artist and dancer based in Johannesburg, who is interested in the intersection between contemporary visual art and so called classical Indian dance practices in South Africa. She studied dance under Satyabhama, who arrived in South Africa in 1975, Chhiba continues to learn under the guidance of Anusha Pillay. Chhiba is co-founder and Creative Director of Sarvavidya Natyaalaya, where she teaches, choreographs and performs. Her solo exhibitions include Kali (2008) and The Two Talking Yonis (2013). She is co-editor of The Yoni Book (2019) an extension of the 2013 exhibition. She serves as Exhibitions Curator at the Wits School of Arts and is pursuing a PhD (2024) in African Literature at Wits University.

 

Panna Dulabh - Administrative Director

Panna Dulabh, is a reiki practitioner and project manager based in Johannesburg. She studied dance under the tutelage of Satyabhama, where she completed her Bharatanatyam diploma. In 2010 Dulabh co-founded Sarvavidya Natyaalaya (SVN) where currently serves as the Administrative Director as well as the senior Spiritual Studies teacher. She is co-producer and stage manager for all SVN and SDE projects and productions. Independently of the SVN, Dulabh undertakes the management and coordination of other projects for a health care company, and uses her passion for wellness to host private meditation and healing retreats under her banner called Finding Zen.