Artistry with fire and form —prepared, powerful, and impossible to ignore
Intentional artist. Precise, soul-driven performer.
Indira Cunningham
Indira is a dynamic and award-winning multi-hyphenate performing and visual artist whose career reflects both artistic excellence and visionary range. A classically-trained dancer and vocalist, her work exudes presence, precision, and passion across stage, sound, and visual storytelling.
about me
Indira Cunningham is a detail-driven performing and visual artist from Atlanta, Georgia known for her precision, professionalism, and intentional artistry. With a foundation in classical ballet and a dynamic range spanning jazz, contemporary, and vocal performance, Indira brings structure and soul to every project. Her work reflects a deep commitment to excellence, community, and clarity of vision — whether she's on stage, in front of the camera, or curating transformative creative experiences.
Grounded in integrity and fueled by preparation, Indira is the artist who shows up prepared, exceeds expectations, and makes the magic feel effortless. Through thoughtful collaboration, clear communication, and a refined eye for detail, she delivers performances and creative offerings that are both meaningful and meticulously executed.
Professional Experience
While attending the University of Oklahoma in fall 2017 as a National Award Scholar and a member of the Honors College, Indira danced as a Trainee, and later, Studio Company member of the Oklahoma City Ballet. While continuing her studies, she moved to Houston to dance as a member of Vitacca Ballet II. She graduated in 3 years in May of 2020 with her Bachelor of Arts in Sociology, with Academic Distinction and a 4.0 GPA.
In 2020, Indira returned to Atlanta to freelance, completing exciting works with Ballethnic Dance Company; Dance Canvas; and Peace, Love, and Dance Project Atlanta. In 2021, Indira joined Confluence Ballet Company in Pittsburgh as an apprentice; she was promoted to Company Artist in 2022. Other guest roles/contracts have included guesting with Salt Creek Ballet (Nutcracker 2021), Create Art Together (Summer 2022), and Staycee Pearl Dance Project (Summer 2023). She debuted as an OG (Principal) in the Pittsburgh premiere of "We Shall not Be Moved" with the Pittsburgh Opera, under the directorship of Bill T. Jones in May 2023. She was a participant in the inaugural Artist Talk Mental Health cohort in Summer 2023.
Recent credits include: Soul Girl, Jesus Christ Superstar (Pittsburgh Musical Theater), Sugar Plum Fairy (New Sun Rising), Auset (Rainbow Serpent).
Awards
Over her performing, artistic, and academic careers, Indira has received many awards, some including:
- 2024-25 1st Place Winner of the Carnegie Museum of Pittsburgh’s Envisioning a Just Pittsburgh Art Exhibition/Showcase
- 2024 Greater Pittsburgh Arts Council AIR Grantee
- 2023-25 Advancing Black Arts Grantee from The Pittsburgh Foundation
- "Emerging Leader Award" 2023, Greater Pittsburgh YWCA
- "Artist of the Year" 2022, Pittsburgh Style Awards
- National Award Scholar, University of Oklahoma - 2017-2020
- Dean’s List, University of Oklahoma- 2017-2020
- President’s List, University of Oklahoma - 2017-2020
- Thomas and Carol Brice Carey Fine Arts Award, University of Oklahoma - 2019
- Star Student Award, Ben Franklin Academy: Awarded to the student with the highest stand-alone SAT score of the students with the top 10 GPA’s in the Senior class - 2017
- Atlanta Journal-Constitution Cup, Ben Franklin Academy: Awarded to the senior deemed most well-rounded - 2017
- YOU Awards Fine Arts Honoree: Dance - 2016
- Governor’s Honors Program Finalist: Dance - 2016
- Recognition of Oustanding Work, Grady College of Journalism, UGA - 2015
Early Education
Indira began her dance training at 3 years old at Atlanta Festival Ballet, and continued her training at Ballethnic Academy of Dance in East Point, GA. As she grew up, Indira fell in love with ballet, and began to train pre-professionally with Ballethnic Academy of Dance. One of her fondest memories to date is of her performance as “Sarah” (Clara) in Balllethnic’s Urban Nutcracker. She has had the opportunity to perform throughout the Southeastern United States, participate in summer intensive programs at Ballethnic, Orlando Ballet, and Oklahoma City Ballet, under a merit scholarship.
Indira received her education from Woodward Academy in College Park, GA, until her junior year of high school, after which she transitioned to Ben Franklin Academy in Atlanta; the work-study program at BFA allowed her to accept an apprenticeship with Ballethnic Dance Company while continuing her evening pre-professional dance training, and to graduate from high school a semester early in December 2016. During her time at Woodward, Indira enjoyed anchoring the news in middle school, participating in honors chorus programs, and competing in various Spanish immersion and poetry competitions. She has ranked 1st and 2nd place in the state of Georgia, and in the 98th percentile on the National Spanish Exam, and Superior in various Spanish poetry recitation or fluency competitions. Indira attended journalism programs at the University of Georgia’s Grady College of Journalism on academic scholarships, and had the privilege to take a language and cultural immersion trip to Costa Rica for Spanish. At Ben Franklin, she enjoyed her fashion design class, in which she designed and made her own dress for her senior prom.
Music
At age 6 she began taking violin lessons, which she continued into her teens. These lessons supplemented her music training with music theory, while she also participated in the school chorus and honors choirs, as well as her church choir. Throughout her life, she has been invited to sing in conferences and in All-State Choirs. In recent years, she has had the privilege of working with Jan Smith and Stevie Mackey for vocal training, and she continues to write music and perform. She is currently receiving vocal coaching from renowned singer and multi-hyphenate, Zuly Inirio.
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