An international educator, composer and choreographer, Nilimma Devi has created multi-media works that attest to the message of a shared human connection beyond the fracture points of race, creed, caste, gender and age. Devi won the Senior Research AIIS fellowship (American Institute of Indian Studies) and discovered the untold practice of creativity hand gesture codes. In 2019, she presented her paper ‘Restoring Self and Soul’ at the American Folklore Society in Baltimore. Councilor on the board of Maryland State Arts Council, Devi was recently awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award from Arts and Humanities Council of Montgomery County. The Andhra Pradesh state government presented her with the Saraswathi Cultural Award in recognition of her work in Kuchipudi.
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Associate Director Anila Kumari
A dancer, poet, visual artist and storyteller, Anila has worked to meet the needs of young students coming from Indian, Tibetan, Nepalese, Caribbean diaspora. Establishing the institute alongside her mother Kuchipudi pioneer Nilimma Devi, she countered body dysmorphia in pre-teen and teen students by shwoing them how to rewrite their perception by building their own storylines of the Indian epic princess Sita. At the Smithsonian Discovery Theater she collaboratively wrote ‘Three Wise Tales’ which focused on the relevance of compassion flowing through Hindu, Musim and Buddhist spiritual traditions. Her visual representation of burning memory in the catharsis of ‘Yagna’ has been exhibited at Towson University and Sandy Spring Museum. Her virtual gallery for Youth Art called ‘Pandemic Hues’ let children paint the release of Covid suppressed fear. Anila’s is a recipient of the Master Apprenticeship Award from the Maryland State Arts Council and the Individual Artist award.
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Rebecca Henry PHD, RN is a medical anthropologist with a lifelong passion for movement and dance. As a teenager she studied at the College of St. Benedict with Margaret Dietz protégé’s. She went on to minor in dance at the University of Minnesota and then to apprentice with Nancy Hauser Dance Company in Minneapolis. Her love of movement inspired her anthropological studies on how the body and experience are constructed through our social lives and daily experiences. She’s worked in the Thailand, Laos, Philippines, Ghana, Mexico, Guyana and the United States and is now anchored at National Institutes of Health. She has rediscovered the centrality of movement and creativity in her life with the aid of Nilimma Devi and the astounding, warm community she has built around her love of Kuchiputi dance.
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An analyst at Fannie Mae, Brennig has also studied cultural diversity, Western philosophy in the Great Books at St. John's College in Annapolis, and Buddhism. He brings his awareness of organizational efficiency and Indian aesthetics to the board.
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An Associate Professor in the Department of Women's Studies and affiliate faculty in the departments of History and Asian American Studies. She is also the editorial director of Feminist Studies, the oldest US journal of interdisciplinary feminist scholarship and artistic expression. Her interests include modern South Asia, sexuality studies and global political economy. Her publications include the books Codes of Misconduct: Regulating Prostitution in Late Colonial Bombay (University of Minnesota Press, 2009) and The Limits of British Colonial Control in South Asia (Rutledge, 2008). A passionate advocate for the Arts, she takes as personal credo: “If I can't dance, I don't want to be part of your revolution."
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An eye surgeon, avid student of martial arts and student of the Goddess literature and dance taught at Sutradhar, Ms. Boschulte understands the need for detail in crafting an arts program, setting an agenda and achieving artistic goals as well as financial. She brings a strong perspective that diversity in culture is essential; emerging out of her Caribbean heritage.
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A corporate financial analyst, Srivastava has a twin expertise in education and finance. She has an MBA from NYU and a master’s in computer science. She is currently working at Yazmi, a start-up that provides access to education to remote parts of Africa through their satellite services. She brings a love for Kuchipudi, language and education to her business background.
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A financial analyst, economist and risk management consultant, Mandapaka is currently Vice President at Charles River Associates. Prior to joining CRA, he earned a PhD in Economics and is an advisor to process reengineering, analytic methodologies and capital issues surrounding financial institutions. In his personal life, Mandapaka is a classical dance and music enthusiast and is fluent in Telugu, Odia and Hindi.
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An artist, financial analyst and consultant has brought her understanding of dance and business to discussions. A gifted dancer, member of the Sutradhar Dance Company and graduate of the traditional Rangapravesham, Ms. Gangwal cultivates a working passion for Kuchipudi. At Morgan Stanley and later Salesforce where she is Senior Director of operations, she has expertise in the day to day financial need of an organization as well as its larger focus.
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Camilla Bryce Laporte
Camilla is a brilliant storyteller and lecturer in the narratives of the global cultural diaspora, as well as African American doll making. As an artisan she crafts heroic women in often overlooked histories. She has worked in Folklore Studies at George Washington University and for over thirty years in programming for the Children Network TV, CBS Cable, Smithsonian, and Library of Congress.
Camilla Bryce Laporte
Camilla is a brilliant storyteller and lecturer in the narratives of the global cultural diaspora, as well as African American doll making. As an artisan she crafts heroic women in often overlooked histories. She has worked in Folklore Studies at George Washington University and for over thirty years in programming for the Children Network TV, CBS Cable, Smithsonian, and Library of Congress
Camilla Bryce Laporte
Camilla is a brilliant storyteller and lecturer in the narratives of the global cultural diaspora, as well as African American doll making. As an artisan she crafts heroic women in often overlooked histories. She has worked in Folklore Studies at George Washington University and for over thirty years in programming for the Children Network TV, CBS Cable, Smithsonian, and Library of Congress
A storyteller, artisan, and folkloric lecturer, Laporte brinks narratives of the global diaspora to both children and adult audiences. She crafts ethnic, traditional dolls while fitting them to true histories of slave rebellions. Laporte has worked in Folklore Studies at George Washington University and for over thirty years in programming for the Children’s Network TV, CBS, Smithsonian and the Library of Congress.
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Lisa Martin has over 30 years of experience working with arts and cultural organizations on both US coasts, as well as across Europe. Lisa has served as Executive Director of Silver Spring Town Center Inc since November 2011. As the first Executive Director of SSTCi (a 501c3), she has oversight of over 100 ongoing arts and entertainment programs and events that take place throughout the year in Downtown Silver Spring primarily at the Silver Spring Civic Building and Veterans Plaza, including: Blues Festival & Blues Week, the Harvest Moon Festival, the Tribute to America's Veterans Concert, the Around the World Bazaar, Arts Salon, plus outdoor performance series on Veterans Plaza.
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