Padma Chebrolu grew up in the small town of Gunter, India. Her passion for dance was ignited at the age of three when her parents enrolled her in classes at a local dance school. As a child, Padma’s family moved around frequently, and Padma would enroll in new dance studios at every new location. This gave Padma knowledge in a wide scope of traditional Southern Indian dance styles. Padma also began teaching dance at a young age when local families sought her out to instruct their children. As the first woman to pursue higher education in her family, Chebrolu went on to study several gurus, and at the Sri Thyagaraja Government College of Music & Dance. She is a master artist in Bharata Natyam, Kuchipudi, Andhra Natyam, Mohini Attam, Kathak Fusion, and Bollywood.

Once moving to the United States in the Early 90’s, Chebrolu attended graduate school. She has since then continued her passion for teaching and sharing her art by serving as artistic director at the Cultural Centre of India, a dance company and studio in Cincinnati, Ohio for 25 years.

As part of her practice as an instructor, she incorporates an expansive knowledge of the music and costuming traditions of the art form, weaving a complete understanding of classical Indian dance traditions into her teaching. In June 2019, Cincinnati Mayor John Cranley issued a proclamation recognizing the contributions of the Cultural Centre of India for the thousands of performances, presentations, and workshops presented to the Ohio communities to promote awareness, understanding, and a better appreciation for diversity and heritage arts. 

Chebrolu serves on the advisory board of OhioDance, a state service organization supporting the diversity of dance practices in Ohio. Tour program, she presents “India Culture Comes To You – Dances of India” at school programs and community events.