Ananth Vikram’s Six-Month World Tour Celebrates the Spirit of Indian Music and Dance

 

Bengaluru: Taking the richness of Indian music and classical dance to international audiences, acclaimed singer, Nattuvangam artist and dance trainer Ananth Vikram recently completed an extensive six-month artistic tour spanning the United Kingdom, United States and Canada from March to September 2026.

Covering nine US states, along with several destinations in the UK and Canada, the tour brought together musical performances, classical dance productions, workshops and cultural exchanges. Reflecting on this remarkable journey in a conversation with this publication, Ananth Vikram described the experience as both deeply fulfilling and memorable.

The UK tour commenced with special AV Live Yugadi concerts in London and Cambridge, accompanied by workshops in dance, Nattuvangam and Kalaripayattu. In the United States, AV Live presented multilingual Indian film-music concerts celebrating Yugadi and India's Independence Day, drawing enthusiastic participation from the Indian diaspora. Ananth Vikram, who also serves as a Jury Judge on Zee TV’s SRGMP, received an encouraging response from audiences, with his performances also gaining coverage in local newspapers.

Beyond the concert circuit, the tour featured significant classical dance engagements. Ananth Vikram was invited to several Arangetrams and Rangapraveshams across nine cities in the USA and Canada, where he rendered vocals and Nattuvangam for both Bharatanatyam and Kuchipudi. His involvement extended to conducting specialised workshops in Bharatanatyam, Nattuvangam and Kalaripayattu, connecting with aspiring dancers, students and established gurus.

Despite his growing international engagements, his connection to his cultural heritage remains strong. Born and brought up in Bengaluru, with ancestral roots in Yellooru near Uchila, Udupi, Ananth Vikram believes that Indian artistic traditions and cultural values continue to be the foundation of his creative journey.

Describing the six-month experience, he expressed a sense of gratitude and fulfilment, calling the journey almost surreal and truly blissful.

“Every country, every city and every stage brought its own experience. What remained constant was the incredible affection people have for Indian music and dance. The encouragement from organisers, sponsors, gurus, artists, students, hosts and audiences made this journey unforgettable,” he shared.

A rare artistic combination of a vocalist and Nattuvangam exponent, Ananth Vikram continues to explore the confluence of music and dance through his performances and training initiatives. His six-month international tour stands as another milestone in his efforts to celebrate, preserve and take India's rich classical and contemporary musical traditions to audiences across the world.