Akhila Rao
Director
Akhila Rao has been in the field of Kathak for over 40+ years. Inspired and supported by her father K J Rao, a leading Kannada stage Actor-Director, Akhila was trained from an early age under the guidance of Guru Shri Ganesh Hiralal in Mumbai, performing her Rang Manch Pravesh in 1978 and presenting at leading venues in India. Recipient of the "Singar Mani" title, awarded by Sur-Singar Samsad at the Kal-Ke-Kalakaar Festival in 1981, she was also winner of The "Menaka Trophy" for Kathak, at the Bombay University Youth Festival. Akhila has also had specialized training for teaching students the finer aspects of Kathak, under the guidance of Guru Late Smt. Asha Joglekar in Mumbai.
Akhila' choreography is well known and appreciated by the global audience for the unique presentations, educative themes and social messaging. She and students have been invited to present and perform at prestigious events in India and USA.
She has been training students in Dallas, USA and earlier in Mumbai in the finer traditional aspects of Kathak, set to a structured course and evaluated to the certification standards of a reputed academy of Indian Classical Dance and Music. She serves as an examiner for Samved Conservatory of Indian Classical Music and Dance, New Jersey, and is the Texas region coordinator of the Institute. She also is an examiner for Akhil Bharatiya Gandharva Mahavidyalaya, Mumbai. Akhila is also an advisory board member of the Indian Classical Music Circle of DFW. She is often invited as a guest scholar/lecturer at universities across Texas for World Dance cultural and movement workshops.
Kathak Rhythms founded by Akhila is a premier Kathak dance school of USA, based in Plano, Texas, where she has trained over 300+ students at 3 locations in the DFW metroplex, as also students at Austin. Many of her students have accomplished Vishaarad (graduation) level, as well as completed their Rang Manch Pravesh. Her senior students have performed at prestigious programs and venues, receiving acclaim and recognition in events globally such as Kal-Ke-Kalakaar, Lotus World Festival, Gandharva Festival, International Kathak Festival etc. and honored with titles including Singar Mani, Natya Praveena and Nritya Gandharva.
At Kathak Rhythms, Akhila is passionately focused on training the future generation of Kathak dancers and teachers in the USA, by providing a thorough appreciation of theory and performance aspects of this beautiful dance. In addition to the Nritta, Nritya and Natya aspects of Kathak, her structured training covers its history, influences of various cultures and the richness of all the Kathak Gharanas, She is committed to her mission to nurture and mentor students devoted to Kathak, who will continue to perform, preserve and teach this ancient and rich style of Indian classical dance.
Akhila' choreography is well known and appreciated by the global audience for the unique presentations, educative themes and social messaging. She and students have been invited to present and perform at prestigious events in India and USA.
She has been training students in Dallas, USA and earlier in Mumbai in the finer traditional aspects of Kathak, set to a structured course and evaluated to the certification standards of a reputed academy of Indian Classical Dance and Music. She serves as an examiner for Samved Conservatory of Indian Classical Music and Dance, New Jersey, and is the Texas region coordinator of the Institute. She also is an examiner for Akhil Bharatiya Gandharva Mahavidyalaya, Mumbai. Akhila is also an advisory board member of the Indian Classical Music Circle of DFW. She is often invited as a guest scholar/lecturer at universities across Texas for World Dance cultural and movement workshops.
Kathak Rhythms founded by Akhila is a premier Kathak dance school of USA, based in Plano, Texas, where she has trained over 300+ students at 3 locations in the DFW metroplex, as also students at Austin. Many of her students have accomplished Vishaarad (graduation) level, as well as completed their Rang Manch Pravesh. Her senior students have performed at prestigious programs and venues, receiving acclaim and recognition in events globally such as Kal-Ke-Kalakaar, Lotus World Festival, Gandharva Festival, International Kathak Festival etc. and honored with titles including Singar Mani, Natya Praveena and Nritya Gandharva.
At Kathak Rhythms, Akhila is passionately focused on training the future generation of Kathak dancers and teachers in the USA, by providing a thorough appreciation of theory and performance aspects of this beautiful dance. In addition to the Nritta, Nritya and Natya aspects of Kathak, her structured training covers its history, influences of various cultures and the richness of all the Kathak Gharanas, She is committed to her mission to nurture and mentor students devoted to Kathak, who will continue to perform, preserve and teach this ancient and rich style of Indian classical dance.
Akhila Rao's Gurus
Late Acharya Shri. Ganesh Hiralal HasalAcharya Ganesh Hiralal Hasal has dedicated a lifetime in the pursuit of Kathak. He is recognized to be among the greatest gurus of the Jaipur Gharana, who has sincerely taught and popularized this style for the past few decades. He belongs to the seventh generation of a traditional family of renowned dancer and scholars. He has been trained by his father, Guru Hiralalji, along with his late brother, Shri Nritraj Hiralal, formerly a famous dancer and teacher in Calcutta. While his father spent many decades spreading and teaching this art form in Delhi, Guruji settled in Bombay, the gateway to the culture of India. He has choreographed several significant works for the stage and the screen.
Acharya Ganesh Hiralal Hasal has participated in several dance conferences all over India and has traveled extensively in India and abroad as a performer, propagating this art form. He has groomed many dancers who have distinguished themselves in this field among whom are Uma Sharma (Delhi), Nandini Singh (Delhi), Sahira Pasha (Bombay/London), Akhila Rao (USA), Sudarshan Dheer (London), Bharti Rai (Germany), Sophie D'souza (Germany), Sandhya V. Shantaram (Mumbai), Prachi Shah (Mumbai) and many others. His son, Dr. Vinod Hasal, is a renowned dancer and choreographer based in South Africa who has made a mark for himself in this field. Acharya Ganesh Hiralal Hasal has recently being honored with the prestigious "Rang Ratan Award" in India. |
Guru Late Smt. Asha JoglekarGuru Asha Joglekar has been teaching Kathak for over 45 years. She has learned Kathak from Padmashree Gopi Krishna & Pandita Rohini Bhate. Its' not surprising, that she is one of the most sought after gurus in Kathak style. Under her able guidance, hundreds of disciples have completed Graduation and Post Graduation in Kathak and also earned Central Govt. Scholarships in India. Her disciples have won a number of awards and titles at various inter-school, inter-college and open competitions as well as at various prestigious music conferences. Her students have been honored with the prestigious "Maneka Trophy" and as well as the “Shringar Mani” title of Sur Singar Samsad for being outstanding Kathak dancers.
Guru Asha Joglekar has been on the panel of judges of Maharashtra Film Festival. She was also the Secretary of Dancers’ Guild of Bombay for 10 years. She has also been a judge at Sur Singar Samsad's music and dance conference since 1990. She is a senior examiner of Graduation and Post Graduation examinations of Pune University, Akhil Bharatiya Gandharva Mahavidyalaya Mandal and Kathak Kendra, Jaipur. She has been awarded the “Sharang Deo Fellowship” by Sangeet Peeth of Sur Singar Samsad in 1994. In 2005 she was awarded the “Lifetime Achievement Award". |