Vaishali Chaudhuri

Teaches at The DanceSource

(Indian Dance) is the Director, Arts & Culture for Institute of International Social Development, an NGO in Special Consultative Status with the United Nations. Vaishali an exponent of the ancient Thanjore style of Bharatanatyam (temple dance of India) started learning this ancient art form at the tender age of four from renowned guru N. Pandarinathan Pillai. She started teaching this rare art form at the age of twelve and has won innumerable accolades and recognition for her performances, teaching and choreography. She was awarded the Woman of the year by the American Biographical Society for her contribution to dance in the year 2002. Among her recent pioneering performances are a Bharathanatyam dance presentation at the showcasing of Indian culture and handicrafts at the United Nations Tribal Exhibition on May 26, 2005 and another performance at the Dag Hammarskjold Auditorium at the United Nations at the ECOSOC High-Level Segment on July 1, 2005. She was also a part of a program for Neighborhood Concert Series organized by the world-renowned The Weill Music Institute at Carnegie Hall entitled “Sounds of India” that featured Indian Classical Dance. Vaishali wishes to share this ancient and rare art form with the rest of the world and towards fulfilling this goal she teaches this art form in Forest Hills, Queens on weekends.