Vidya Kotamraju is a Vancouver-based dancer of the Classical Indian dance form of Bharata Natyam. Kotamraju received her initial training in Bharata Natyam from Sheila Jagadish Kumar in Goa, India and was an active solo and group performer for several years in India. She has been training under Jai Govinda, Artistic Director of Mandala Arts and Culture in Vancouver, Canada since 2004. Kotamraju performed her Arangetram (dance graduation) in 2007. She has since performed for Mandala Arts and Culture as a soloist and group performer, notably in productions, The Temptation of Buddha and The Monk and The Courtesan. She has also performed for the Mayor at the Vancouver City Hall, Crimson Cabaret, Dance Centre's Silk Route Festival, Wish 150 A Long Way Home Exhibit, Namaste Canada, Spirit of India Festival at PNE and the Vancouver Cultural Olympiad, Tagore's Shyama among others. Most recently, Kotamraju has performed for Vancouver's DiwaliFest, International Indian Cultural Festival and the Vancouver International Dance Festival. Kotamraju serves on the Boards of New Works and Mandala Arts and Culture. She is the recipient of the 2017 Shade of Hope "Best Bharata Natyam Classical Dancer" Award.
