At 16, he started a dance revolution. Today, Krishna Manognya Balaraju and his Ayana Dance Company are taking Indian art to the world — one purposeful performance at a time
What began as a passionate initiative to blend art with environmental awareness has grown into a nationally acclaimed, internationally recognised dance company that redefines the boundaries between classical tradition and contemporary innovation. “What began as a youthful act of passion has since evolved into a groundbreaking dance and performance company that’s gained national acclaim, toured across continents, and redefined the boundaries between classical tradition and contemporary innovation,” says Krishna Manognya Balaraju, founder and artistic director of Ayana.
Founded in 2009, Ayana has evolved over sixteen years into a vibrant platform that brings together cultural expression and social consciousness. Under Krishna’s visionary leadership, the company has choreographed for award-winning films, performed for esteemed audiences including the Indian Prime Minister and the Ambani family, and represented India at prestigious global forums such as the G20 summit and ICCR tours in Africa and Europe.
A recent milestone was the world premiere of Teertha in Singapore, staged at the PGP Hall of the Sri Srinivasa Perumal Temple during the Samhita Dance Festival. Originally commissioned by the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam, the production marked a special reunion—it brought Ayana’s full ensemble of principal dancers together onstage for the first time in over a year.
“It marked both a homecoming and a new beginning,” says Krishna adding, “Plans are already underway to take Teertha on a global tour, continuing our mission of sharing deeply rooted, spiritually resonant Indian dance with audiences around the world.” At the heart of Ayana is a close-knit leadership team: Krishna himself, alongside Pallavi Manjunath, Vishal Swamy, Raksha Ganesh, and Manish Kumar.
Based between Bangalore and Hyderabad, the team lives and breathes dance—traveling, training, and evolving together while sharing their work across diverse cultures and communities.
Nature & Spirituality
In recent years, Ayana’s focus has leaned more toward the spiritual. Productions like Dhruva, Atharva, Partha, and Teertha delve into Bhakti—not just as a theme, but as a lived and embodied experience. Still, the company remains rooted in activism.
“From environmental advocacy to identity politics, our performances offer a mirror to the world—shaped by tradition yet speaking powerfully to the present,” says Krishna.
Looking ahead, he and his team are turning their focus toward education. “Our vision is to create pathways for young artists to build sustainable careers while contributing meaningfully to the creative economy,” he says.Ayana mixes tradition and modern ideas to share Indian dance with people around the world
In every rhythm, Ayana continues to dance with purpose—bridging local and the global.
