About Us
The academy was founded with the sole purpose of imparting training of Kathak while inculcating the values, traditions and culture it embodies. It provides a stimulating, supportive and multi-cultural environment to explore the physical, intellectual and spiritual benefits of the ancient art-form as a student, professional or enthusiast. We wish to enrich the community through performances and demonstrations as well as foster personal growth and cultural exploration through its workshop and outreach activities.
Founder & Artistic Director
Smt. Antara Datta
Antara Datta started learning Kathak at the tender age of five from Srimati Laxmi Bannerjee in Kolkata, India. She holds a double diploma in Kathak from the Bangiya Sangeet Parishad in Kolkata and the Prayag Sangeet Samiti in Allahabad, India. She received advanced training in the Lucknow gharana of Kathak from “Sringar Mani“ Srimati Anuradha Nag (a senior disciple of Pandit Birju Maharaj and the artistic director of the Tarangini School of dance, San Jose, California). To hone her skills further Antara Datta also receives training from Kathak maestro Pandit Birju Maharaj and Vidushi Saswati Sen, during her annual trips to India at Kalashram, New Delhi. In addition, she regularly visits Mahagami (a dance Gurukul in Aurangabad, India) to receive intensive training from Guru Parwati Dutta. Antara receives Taal Vidya training from Guruji, Pandit Divvang Vakil. Antara has performed extensively in both India and abroad and is the Artistic Director of Anga Kala Kathak Academy and Anga Kala Dance Company. She also serves as the President of Arts Without Borders. Antara taught Kathak as an adjunct faculty in Cornish College of Arts Seattle, WA in 2010, Kent State University Kent in Winter 2014, and University of Akron, in OH Winter 2017.
Instructor
Ms. Archana Verma
Archana has been part of the Anga Kala Kathak Academy since 2013. Her formal foray into Kathak was when she received training under the guidance of the late Pandit Chitresh Das at the Chhandam School of Dance in San Jose, California. She gets immense joy from passing on the passion and beauty of Kathak to the younger generations and started teaching at Chhandam School. Her interest for Kathak has deepened over the years under the able tutelage of Srimati Antara Datta. What began as a hobby is now a lifelong passion. She currently trains students at the beginner and intermediate level at Anga Kala Kathak Academy.
Instructor
Ms. Apoorvaa Pandit
Apoorvaa AKA Ava Pandit wears many hats within as well as outside the Anga Kala family. She’s had a keen interest in classical art forms from a very young age, and has had the privilege of learning Kathak from Guru Munna Shukla ji in her teen years. She later learned under the Jaipur gharana style in Delhi. Apoorvaa also serves as the Secretary of Arts without Border – a premier nonprofit in North America; and She has been an active part of Anga Kala Kathak Academy since 2016. She is now studying in advanced classes under guru Smt. Antara Datta. Under the guidance of Antara didi, Apoorvaa also teaches Beginner & Intermediate classes at the academy.
Instructor
Ms. Rishika Arun
Rishika has been a student of Smt. Antara Datta since the age of 6. She has always had a great passion for different types of dance, and has acquired more and more interest in Kathak over the years. She has been able to experience many great opportunities to perform and therefore form strong bonds with her fellow instructors and classmates. In 2020, she gained the privilege of instructing beginner classes at the academy which she deeply enjoys.
Instructor
Shravani Amradkar
Shravani has been learning Kathak for the last decade under the tutelage of Smt. Antara Datta. Her doors were opened to a world where she received poise, determination and guidance from her guru, allowing her to grow into a confident young adult. Over the years, she has also picked up a passion for Odissi and has been learning it for the last 5 years. Looking back, these art forms have become a tight woven path that are inseparable from her life. In 2020, she had the privilege to step into a role of instructing beginner classes at the academy through the guidance of Antara didi.