Vrunda Upadhyay
Teacher of South Asian Dance & Music
What the Nominator shared: I want to nominate her because she is an accomplished dancer, Educator, Choreographer and a versatile Singer. Master of performing Arts (Bharatnatyam), Bachelor in Music (Vocal) and a Diploma in Instrumental music. She is the Member of THE INTERNATIONAL DANCE COUNCIL CID, UNESCO and the Association of Bharatnatyam Artistes of India (ABHAI). She has Performed in international dance festivals globally held at Korea, USA, Canada, Greece, Srilanka and many more. She Is honoured with various awards like Nritya Naad, National nritya bhushan, Yuva Pratibha, Satyabhama, Nritya Shivali , Girnar Ratna , Brij Madhuri samman to name few. She has also curated classical art festivals
In their own words: Vrunda is an accomplished (South Asian Dancer) Bharatnatyam dancer, Educator, Choreographer and a versatile Singer. Master of performing Arts (Bharatnatyam), Bachelor in Music (Vocal) and a Diploma in Instrumental music. She is the Member of THE INTERNATIONAL DANCE COUNCIL CID, UNESCO and the Association of Bharatnatyam Artistes of India (ABHAI). She has Performed in international dance festivals globally held at Korea, USA, Canada, Greece, Srilanka and many more. She Is honoured with various awards like Nritya Naad, National nritya bhushan, Yuva Pratibha, Satyabhama, Nritya Shivali , Girnar Ratna , Brij Madhuri samman to name few. She has also curated classical art festivals. She is the Founder/Artistic Director of Mudra Traditional Arts (Mudra Dance Academy), Mumbai and Mudra Traditional Arts Academy based in Brampton. Academy provides professional guidance in Indian classical music and dance. Being an artist you do what is important to give back to the community and I wish our Asian Diaspora dance community becomes strong year by year.
CanAsian Dance is situated in Tkaronto, a Mohawk word meaning “the place in the water where the trees are standing.” It is the traditional territory of many nations, including the Mississaugas of the Credit, the Anishinaabeg, the Chippewa, the Haudenosaunee, and the Wendat peoples, and it continues to be the home to many diverse First Nations, Inuit, and Métis peoples.
This land is under the Dish with One Spoon covenant, an agreement between the Anishinaabeg and the Haudenosaunee Confederacy. This land is a dish to be shared and cared for and we all share one spoon; the spoon is to be used to take only what is needed and to leave enough for others, thus ensuring a viable and abundant future. We recognize the enduring resilience of Indigenous peoples and we acknowledge that we are accountable to these relationships and these agreements.
We carry these values of responsibility in sharing and caring in abundance with consideration of not only ourselves but of our communities that we share together.
