Anjali School of Dance

Here is the Video of Anita’s Celebration Event held in Portland on Aug 16th.

It is the story of her life and work told through dance and music.

It is about 2 hours long starting with her early years and culminates with her greatest works.

Anita Menon - Celebration of Life and Art

Thanks to the Theater for Young Audiences for putting together this tribute to Anita.

Remembering Anita Menon Dancer, choreographer, teacher, and former TYA/USA Board Member Anita Menon passed away on June 3rd, 2025.

Come join us for a special evening honoring the beautiful life and art of Anita Menon. The event will take place at The Judy Kafoury Center for Youth Arts (The Judy) in Portland. Through music and dance, we will be remembering Anita's artistic journey beginning with her early arangetrams in Portland, her initial forays into Western storytelling through Indian Classical Dance, her larger-than-life theater productions, and her collaborative work with various arts organizations. The event will include heartfelt tributes from her students and collaborators to commemorate Anita's impact on the community. Please join us in coming together to celebrate the legacy of an amazing artist and individual.

Celebration of the Life and Art of Anita Menon Join us for a heartfelt tribute filled with music, memories, and dance to celebrate the life and art of Anita Menon.

Thank you to Sarah Jane Hardy - Artistic Director of NWCT, and Subashini Ganesan - Chair of the Oregon Arts Commission, for putting together this beautifully written tribute to Anita's artistic journey.

Remembering dancer, choreographer and teacher Anita Menon • Oregon ArtsWatch The much-loved advocate of the Bharatanatyam dance of her native India, who established Portland's Anjali School of Dance and also worked on Western theater projects, is praised for her openness and collaborative approach to art.

I (Anita’s husband Satish) am writing today on behalf of the Menon family (our children Alisha and Avish, Anita’s parents, my parents and extended family on both sides).

It is with a heavy heart that we inform all of Anita’s family, friends & colleagues, about Anita’s passing on June 3rd in Chennai, India.

She was diagnosed with Stage 4 Gastrointestinal cancer three years ago and bravely endured many sequences of treatment to give us these precious extra years with her.

We were blessed to be able to come back to her childhood home in Chennai to spend her final days surrounded by her family and loved ones. Her last moments were filled with peace and happiness.

Anita was an incredible dancer and teacher. She inspired so many with her art, energy, grace, and character. She not only passed on a thousand-year-old art form, but innovated to create a new genre that connected with global audiences and engaged the next generation.

Her first foray into telling global stories through Indian classical dance began with adaptations of Red Riding Hood, Cinderella, Wizard of Oz, and Pegasus. This grew into her own productions including a spectacular Shakespearean drama, an Agatha Christie mystery, and then expanded into collaborations with Western theaters in productions such as The Jungle Book, Tenali: The Royal Trickster, and Chitra: The Girl Prince. These masterpieces sold tens of thousands of tickets, introducing her unique expression of art and culture to the world.

Beyond creating, Anita was an influential figure in the broader arts scene. For her innovative artistic work, she received the prestigious Regional Arts and Culture Council Fellowship award, several Portland Area Musical Theater Award nominations, and a Drammy award for “Outstanding Choreographer”. Later, she was invited to join the RACC board and also sat on boards of the Northwest Children’s Theater and Theater for Young Audiences where she inspired cross-cultural collaborations across the US.

Anita lives on through all who grew from her teachings, were shaped by her artistic vision, and continue to remember and share her art with the world.

Anita was also an exceptional mother and wife. She was an extremely caring and loving person, who always put others before herself. Everything we have been able to accomplish individually and as a family was only because of her efforts and sacrifices. We loved her deeply and hope that we meet her again in the next life.

Anita wanted to let everyone know that she was grateful to cross paths with you in this life. We would like to compile an album of the beautiful life she led, and others’ memories with her. If you can, please send 1-2 photos of your favorite memory with Anita by directly messaging (DM) this account.

We will be organizing a service Celebrating Anita’s Life & Art in Portland towards the end of the summer to gather together everyone whose lives she touched through her art, dance school, and life. More information about that will be posted on this page in due course.

On this auspicious day of Guru Purnima, the Anjali School of Dance pays homage to our Gurus - the Remover of Darkness/Ignorance. Gurus are our guiding force - encouraging us, prodding us, cheering us and yes! kicking us in the seat of our pants when we most need it!

As per Hindu Shastras (scriptures) a Guru is someone who:

1. Has a profound and deep knowledge of the subject.
2. Lives a life that reflects the discipline and teachings.
3. Has the ability to develop that kind of quality in others by transferring their knowledge.

We are grateful for all our Gurus, who have appeared at different times to teach us the most valuable lessons 🙏

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We are proud to be American while maintaining our cultural identity.

Happy 4th America 🇺🇸!



Picture credit: Mahendra Ramachandran
Picture of: Anjali student

To all the dancers who I’ve learned with, performed with, collaborated with and taught - Wishing you a very happy International Dance Day! May you continuously be blessed with the joy of dance!

This picture was chosen from a previous production of “The Jungle Book” (in collaboration with Northwest Children’s Theater in Portland, OR) because of how much joy the dancers exude even though they were performing an art form totally new to them. The audience felt and experienced that joy!

Dance is indeed a universal language!

Picture credit: David Kinder

Wishing our fans and friends around the globe a Very Happy Valentine's Day!

Picture of past Anjali Student: Vipanchi Mungara

Here's a reminder to "fall back". Wondering what to do with that extra hour? Don't sleep, practice dance instead!! You won't regret it!

Picture courtesy: David Kinder
Performance of: Thillana (Kadhanakudhuhalam, Adi, Balamuralikrishna)
Choreography: Anita Menon
Production: Tenali: The Royal Trickster
A collaboration with: Northwest Children's Theater and School

“If you want real peace in the World, start with children” said Mahatma Gandhi.

Today we honor the Mahatma on his Birthday with a flashback to an Anjali Arangetram.

Arangetram on: October 2nd 2010
Dancer Performing: Raghupati Raghava Rajaram
Homage to: Mahatma Gandhi
Choreography: Anita Menon

#महात्मा_गांधी