Smitha Banda

Smitha started learning Kuchipudi Dance from a very young age of 4 under the guidance of Prof. Dr. Sri.Bhagavatula Sethuram garu. Sethuram garu has direct lineage to Bhagavatula and Vempati families from the village of Kuchipudi. He taught her to love dance, instilled passion by laying a strong foundation for perfection. She is still refining her art and continues to learn from him even today.

Her first solo performance was at the age of 5 and since then she have given several solo and group performances on multiple occasions for prestigious television channels, departments, and organizations. In addition to traditional items, she was fortunate to have been able to learn and perform several dance dramas such as Yashoda Krishna, Prahlada Pattabhishekam, Sowndarya Lahari, Ashtalakshmi Vaibhavam, Panchabhutalu, and Ramayanam.

Learning dance has given her a skill for life and the physical, mental and emotional fitness for facing life's challenges. Dance has shaped her personality, taught her to be social, patient, disciplined, persistent, accountable, unafraid, make mind body connection, and above all instilled a lot of self confidence and self esteem in her because of which she has done well in her professional career. She is a director at a prestigious multinational company. She wants to be able to share the skill and help young children be ready for life.

She also believe that one should always be open to new experiences and never stop exploring and hence the name ANVESHANA. Through Anveshana she wants to help adults and children explore art and outdoors. He love and passion for dance and outdoors is equal and she also leads single and multi-day hiking and backpacking trips. 

My journey with Kuchipudi Dance commenced at the tender age of four. A passion that accompanied me through numerous solo and group performances during my formative years and well into adulthood. However, life took me on a different path when I moved to this country, and my connection to dance was temporarily severed.

It wasn’t until 23 years later, during my battle with cancer, that I rediscovered the profound solace and serenity that dance offered. Amid medical treatments, the mere thought of dance became my refuge, grounding me in those challenging moments.

It was during this period that I came to realize the invaluable life lessons and qualities that dance had instilled in me – persistence, endurance, resilience, self-belief, and self-confidence, faith, and the harmonious integration of mind, body, and soul. These qualities became essential for my fight against cancer.

Today, my aspiration and purpose are clear: I am determined to pay forward the profound benefits of dance to others, enabling them to experience the same empowerment and enrichment that I have derived from it. My mission is to assist both children and adults in their journey of self-discovery through the medium of dance. To fulfill this vision, I founded 'Anveshana,' through which I aim to empower others to unearth their own happiness, strength, and self-confidence within the graceful artistry of dance.

Together, we will light the path to self-discovery, empowerment, and renewed hope through the universal language of dance.