Our Visharad Graduates
What is Visharad?
Visharad Upantya is Level 6 and Visharad Purna is Level 7 as per the examination system followed by our students in their Kathak journey. All our graduates listed below have successfully completed Level 7, which is equivalent to a Bachelor’s degree in a regular academic setting.
Each level consists of an extensive syllabus that takes approximately 1.5 - 2 years to learn. Each Visharad exam is a 3-part exam :
Visharad Upantya is Level 6 and Visharad Purna is Level 7 as per the examination system followed by our students in their Kathak journey. All our graduates listed below have successfully completed Level 7, which is equivalent to a Bachelor’s degree in a regular academic setting.
Each level consists of an extensive syllabus that takes approximately 1.5 - 2 years to learn. Each Visharad exam is a 3-part exam :
- Part 1 consists of TWO subjective/free-response written exams of 3 hours each
- Part 2 is a 25-minute solo stage performance with live music accompaniment
- Part 3 is an hour long viva - a one-on-one practical examination.
We want to specially highlight that each one of these students are high achievers not only in Kathak,
but in their respective academic, extracurricular and/or professional lives as well!
We hope our current and future students are inspired by their accomplishments and see this as a motivation to pursue learning
and continuing Kathak in-depth, even when times are challenging.
but in their respective academic, extracurricular and/or professional lives as well!
We hope our current and future students are inspired by their accomplishments and see this as a motivation to pursue learning
and continuing Kathak in-depth, even when times are challenging.
Aarti Gupta has trained in Kathak for as long as she can remember. She started her journey as a child in a small city in Rajasthan. Her advancement into her academic career as a medical graduate brought a break to that training. After coming to US under the guidance of her beloved teacher Akhila Rao, Aarti rekindled the fire to her passion for Kathak. She has been steady at her current Kathak journey for 13 years now during which she has performed at numerous venues, attended workshops with Lt. Pandit Birju Maharaj and Guru Shama Bhate ji. She currently holds the status of a Visharad (Bachelors) in Kathak and is working towards her Alankar (Masters).
Abha Shirolkar recently graduated from Allen High School, and attends Texas A&M University where she is majoring in Biology. Abha has been learning Kathak since 2011 when she was in kindergarten, and has dedicated over 12 years to its elegance, grace, and cultural significance. Abha intends to follow a Pre-med pathway with aspirations of becoming an anesthesiologist. Last summer, she gained teaching experience as a teacher's assistant at a tutoring center for Math and English. Recently, Abha obtained her state license as a Certified Nurse Aide, and is looking forward to acquiring clinical experience in nursing homes.
Anaya Kashikar was introduced to Kathak at the age of 5. After basic training under gurus like Vijayalaxmi Bidla and Varsha Jawdekar, she started a rigorous and structured training program under the expert tutelage of Guru Akhila Rao. She has received a Visharad (graduate) certification degree from Samved Conservatory of Indian Classical Music and Dance in 2021. For the past four years, she has taught beginner level Kathak as part of her Visharad training. Art that blossoms from music, rhythm, and movement, holds a fascination for Anaya. She explores these aspects by learning other forms of dance like jazz and ballet. Anaya has also been an artistic swimmer since she was 8 years old. She has served as team captain of her team - Austin Angelfish, and competed at the national level in Junior Olympics. Anaya attends Texas Woman's University as an Artistic Swimming athlete pursuing a kinesiology major on the pre-physical therapy track along with a health psychology minor. She is continuing her Kathak journey by prep for Alankar levels and participating in productions. Read more about Anaya here.
Isha Patel began formal training in Kathak with Guru Akhila Rao at the age of six and completed her Visharad Purna in November 2021. and her debut solo stage performance with live accompaniment - Rang Manch Pravesh in August 2022. Her love for Kathak’s complex rhythmic structure sparked an interest in Tabla ,which she has been studying under Pandit Shantilal Shah since 2020. She grew up competing in Garba, Raas and Gujarati folk dances, winning many national competitions under the direction of Induben Mangrola. Isha is most proud of having single-handedly raised $100,000 for Pratham USA. She currently serves as a civil engineering intern for the City of Carrollton attends Texas A&M studying Civil Engineering.
Manju Sharma began her initial training in Kathak with Guru Aparna Karmarkar in Virginia for five years. Upon moving to Dallas, Manju continued her kathak journey in 2013 under Guru Akhila Rao at Kathak Rhythms. As of 2021, Manju has completed her Visharad in Kathak, and enjoys being an assistant teacher to her Guruji. Besides being a mother of 3 and a home- maker, Manju is an Occupational Therapist with a specialization in Geriatrics. Manju’s passion for Kathak is reflected in her daily life when she shares the knowledge of this rich, classical art form with those near and dear to her, including her therapy patients. Manju has also been an avid runner with the achievement of completing two marathons. Manju believes that one must always pursue their passion to achieve true bliss in life. In 2022, Manju presented a 3 hour debut performance, Rang Manch Pravesh, with the accompaniment of live musicians. Manju is very thankful for the love and support from her spouse and children to pursue her childhood dream.
Megha Sharma is a software engineer by profession with 16 years of experience. She started learning Kathak at the age of 10 in India but discontinued after 4 years. After moving to USA and getting married, she restarted her Kathak journey with Guru Akhila Rao in 2013, rediscovering her childhood passion. Kathak has been an integral part of her life since then. Now a mother of 6 year old, Megha is still continuing her journey in the form of teaching beginners at the Southlake location of Kathak Rhythms. Some other things she is passionate about are yoga, travelling and hiking.
Meenakshi Mohan started her Kathak journey with Guru Akhila Rao as a new mother in a new city 11 years ago and completed her Visharad in 2021. Today as a Kathak teacher for beginners, she loves connecting with all age groups and especially enjoys creating precious Kathak memories with her daughter Meera and son Neel who is a self proclaimed Kathak judge. Meenakshi presented her Rang Manch with live music accompaniment in May 2022. Professionally, Meenu is an Executive Director at JP Morgan Chase where she passionately serves as DFW leader for 3000+ member strong resource group for Asians and Pacific Islanders Reaching for Excellence.
Meerambika Kulkarni began her Kathak journey when she was 5 years old and living in India. When she moved to the United States, she continued her dance training under Guru Archana Joglekar and then under Guru Anuradha Nag. 13 years ago she moved to Dallas and began her training under Guru Akhila Rao and since then, has grown both as a dancer and as a teacher. Completing rigorous training in both physical and theoretical components, Meera completed her Visharad Purna in 2016 and has since been working towards completing the Alankaar levels. For the past 11 years, she has been teaching both beginner and advanced students as a part of her Kathak training and firmly believes that teaching is a necessary ingredient in becoming a better dancer. Kathak is a dance of storytelling, a dance of life or what it means to be human, so it is no surprise that for her career, Meera explored the field of Anthropology. Armed with a bachelor’s degree and a master’s degree in Sociocultural Anthropology, Meera is currently foraying into the field of UX (user experience) to work as a UX designer.
Meera Bhakta is a senior, and one of the top students at Plano East Senior High School. She began Kathak at the age of 5 with her guru Akhila Rao. Meera’s passion for Kathak has encouraged her to overcome the challenges of being a hard-of-hearing dancer such as being unable to hear and understand precise musical beats, notes, and words. Meera is also a National karate Gold medalist, an academic all-state athlete, and her high school’s varsity cross country captain where she has affectionately earned the titles of “mom” and “coach meera”. Meera values her work as an advocate by running a Red Cross youth blog with nearly 30,000 subscribers.
Neha Deosthali has been learning kathak for 12 years with her Guru, Akhila Rao. She learned Kathak in Plano for around 3 years in-person before she moved to Austin. Since then, she continued her Kathak training virtually for the last 9 years, completing her Visharad Purna in 2021. Neha has also been teaching beginner students in Austin. She completed her Kathak Rang Manch Pravesh, a 3 hour solo debut performance with the accompaniment of live musicians in Oct 2022. Outside of Kathak, Neha plays varsity basketball, is a student researcher, and leads various other volunteering activities. Neha is a freshman at UT Austin.
Megha Rao's Kathak journey began 11 years ago but her love for the arts blossomed from a younger age. From Dance to painting and drawing, Kathak has given her the opportunity to not only learn more about her culture but also express herself creatively and connect with others who share her interest. Megha is currently pursuing a Bachelor's degree in both Supply Chain Management and Information Technology Systems through the honors program at the University of Texas at Dallas. As she enters her junior year in the fall, she aims to attain a career in the consulting field while also nurturing her passion for dance. In her free time, Megha enjoys spending time with family, watching movies, and delving into a good book.
Mrunmayi Sathaye currently graduated from the University of Texas at Dallas with a degree in computer science in 2022 She began kathak when she was in 6th grade and has been dancing for over 10 years now. She was always interested in dancing, and when she got her shuffle MP3 player when she was six, she loaded it with old bollywood songs and danced in the hallways of her home. Kathak served to channel that love for dance into a more disciplined form of art. Along with dance, she has her diploma in Hindustani classical music and loves singing.
Pragati Mundhada has been learning Kathak at Kathak Rhythms for over 7 years. When she first started, she never realized how much this art form would impact everyday life. It has brought her closer to her cultural roots, helped her stay mentally and physically healthy, and taught her how to effectively convey stories through artful expressions and gestures. Furthermore, Kathak has taught her much about the value of perseverance and hard work — skills that she will continue to incorporate in all aspects of life. Currently, Pragati is in her third year at Texas A&M University, with a major in biology and a minor in public health. She plans to go to medical school in the hopes of specializing in pediatrics. Outside of academics and Kathak, Pragati spends her time volunteering for mental health nonprofits, hiking with family, playing the guitar, and playing tennis.
Rujula Sharma is currently a junior at UT Austin on the pre-medical track studying psychology. Rujula has been learning Kathak for over 13 years. She started her journey of Kathak in 2010 in India under guru Saswati Sen. Upon moving to the United States, she started learning Kathak from guru Akhila Rao. Kathak has become an integral part of Rujula's being, evoking a profound and indescribable love that emanates from her very core.Rujula thoroughly enjoys exploring the vibrant city of Austin with her friends, immersing herself in its diverse culture and attractions. Alongside her adventures, she nurtures a profound aspiration of becoming a highly esteemed and accomplished dancer in the future.
Saloni Tipnis began her Kathak journey when she was 7 years old in Pune, India. Dance has been an integral point in her life and she has developed a passion for it since joining Kathak Rhythms in 2014 when she moved to Plano. Being at Kathak Rhythms has allowed for Saloni to learn more about her culture as well as expose her to many opportunities that she never thought she would be able to experience. Saloni is a flute player and participated in HOSA and National Honor Society in her high school. As an aspiring medical professional, Saloni believes that the drive and work ethic she has is due to her hard work and commitment put into learning Kathak. It has allowed her to stay in touch with her culture. Saloni attends Texas A&M University, majoring in Neuroscience.
Under the guidance Guru Akhila Rao, Sapna Adhikari has been learning Kathak for over ten years and successfully completed her Visharad Purna (Bachelor’s Degree in Dance) in 2018. Passionate about dance since childhood, she is grateful to Kathak Rhythms for the opportunity to pursue her childhood dream as an adult. She is continuing her Kathak journey, both, as a student aspiring to complete the Alankaar level as well as teaching Kathak to new students. In addition, with her fellow dancers, she worked on and received a Diploma in Kathak Shastra under Padmashree Guru Dr. Puru Dadheech in 2020.
On the personal front, Sapna is a full time IT professional employed as Technical Manager at Chase and mother to two kids. Sapna is especially thrilled to share her Kathak journey with her daughter (Sanjana Koli) who completed her Visharad degree in 2022.
On the personal front, Sapna is a full time IT professional employed as Technical Manager at Chase and mother to two kids. Sapna is especially thrilled to share her Kathak journey with her daughter (Sanjana Koli) who completed her Visharad degree in 2022.
Sapna Ganeshan has been learning Kathak from Smt Akhila Rao for nearly 11 years now. As a child, she learned Bharatnatyam in India, and in Dallas, she studied Flamenco for 5 years under Daniel Cordoba. Sapna has a Bachelor's degree in Engineering and a Master's degree in Robotics. She has held executive positions at various companies in telecom technology and was the co-founder of Glow Networks, where she raised $17 million in funding from Silicon Valley venture capitalists. Sapna is the President of Red Comet, an online education & technology company with more than 150 personnel spread throughout the United States. Sapna’s leadership was highlighted by Inc. 5000 which recognized Red Comet as being in the top 1% of all privately owned companies in the United States. Financial Times ranked Red Comet in the top 300 fastest-growing companies in all of the Americas. In 2022, Sapna presented a 3 hour debut performance, Rang Manch Pravesh, with the accompaniment of live musicians.
Saumya Dhamankar recently finished her senior year at Plano East Senior High School, where she completed the IB program. She is an incoming neuroscience graduate at the University of Texas at Dallas this fall, and plans on studying medicine in the future. Saumya has been learning Kathak for over 11 years. She started learning Kathak in 2012 at the age of 6 under the direction of Guru Ragini Makkhar in Indore. After moving back to the United States in 2013, she started learning Kathak from Guru Akhila Rao. Kathak is a major part of her life and she plans on pursuing it as a lifelong passion. Saumya values community service and volunteers at Plano Teen Court as a teen attorney to help determine the appropriate community service hours teenagers must serve. In her free time, she enjoys playing violin, watching movies and spending time with her family and friends.
Sanjana Koli graduated from Lebanon Trail High School in 2024. Sanjana started learning Kathak with Guru Akhila Rao at the age of six, and is grateful to her Guru for providing her a path to connect with her Indian heritage. In addition to Dance, Sanjana enjoys playing the viola and is a member of the Chamber orchestra at her school. Academically, she hopes to pursue a career in medicine.
Shivani Patel is a Dallas born and Houston raised proud mother of 3. Professionally, an anesthesiologist and pain management physician, Shivani has shown a keen interest in dance from an early age. She has learned Bharatanatyam under Ms. Uma Nagarsheth in Houston and has also excelled and competed in Gujarati Folk Dances, Garba and Raas, under Ms Uma Nagarsheth and Ms. Induben Mangrola. Shivani also enjoys western styles of dance such as swing, salsa and Texas Two Step. After completing her medical training, she resumed her interest in learning classical dance in 2008. Shivani and her daughter have been disciples of Mrs. Akhila Rao of Kathak Rhythms since 2010.
Srija Lahiri is a senior at Plano West Senior High School. She started dancing when she was 6 years old. Her Kathak training began when she was 8, but her passion for the art form started to grow 2 years later in 2014, when she moved to Dallas and joined Kathak Rhythms. Srija is grateful to her Guru Akhila Rao and her peers, who are constantly helping her become a better dancer and a better person. Srija is also a swimmer and a lifeguard, and a leader of her high-school’s “She’s The First” club that promotes education for girls.
Swarangi Potdar's journey in Kathak began at the age of six. She believes Kathak can be considered to be a way of life. There are various aspects of this dance that trickles down into her day to day activities that promotes a better and healthier lifestyle. Kathak most evidently involves immense physical activity which maintains her mental and physical health. Secondly, Swarangi believes this institution’s way of following the traditional examination system, allows to develop a sense of focus and information recalling abilities, which helped her perform better in academics. Lastly, Kathak allows her to stay connected to her culture reinforces those cultural values into daily life. Swarangi is a senior at Southern Methodist University double majoring in Finance and Visual Art with a minor of Art History. She is currently interning for a Fortune 500 company in financial services and is also a free lance, nationally published artist. Through Kathak, she is able to find a sense discipline to reach her goals and take on creative endeavors.
Sunita Kulkarni started leaning Kathak when she was nearing her 50 and her husband surprised her by enrolling her with Guru Smt. Akhila Rao. Since Sunita did not know D of Dance let alone K of Kathak, She is thankful to her Guru for being patient through out her journey thus far. Besides Kathak, Sunita enjoys painting and eating. She is a bank professional and handles the wealth management aspect. Learning Kathak has widened her horizon to appreciate classical dance techniques that balled over her head when she was a kid, if health permits she would continue with her journey.
Tanushri Bhatt's Kathak journey started 11 years ago. Over the years, she has grown to appreciate this wonderful dance form due to its platform of unique expression. Along with Kathak, Tanushri loves anything related to fine arts. She loves painting roses, playing the piano, and modeling. Tanushri is currently pursuing a Bachelor’s in Urban Planning at Texas A&M University’s School of Architecture along with a minor in Business. She wants to work with government officials to implement sustainable city designs that provide a higher quality of life. In the future, Tanushri hopes to follow in the footsteps of her Guru Akhila Rao and teach kathak to younger generations. Tanushri will begin her presentation with Ram Vandana.
Sunaina Rao has been training in the field of Kathak for over 25 years under the guidance of her mother and guru, Akhila Rao. Sunaina completed her Visharad Purna with honors from Samved Conservatory of Indian Classical Music and Dance, NJ in 2016 and Akhil Bharatiya Gandharva Mahavidyalaya in 2018. Sunaina has been bestowed with the title of "Singaar Mani" by the Sur Singaar Samsad (Mumbai) for her performance at the prestigious Kal-Ke-Kalakar Sangeet Sammelan in 2010. She is a co-founder and principal dancer of Kathak Rhythms, where she is currently pursuing Alankaar training. She is also currently enrolled in the first year M.A. program at Bharathi Vidyapeeth deemed University under the esteemed tutelage of Guru Shama tai Bhate. Academically, Sunaina completed her Doctor of Pharmacy degree from the University of Houston and completed a 2-year residency in Health-System Pharmacy Administration at the University of Kansas Health System along with a Masters of Science in Hospital Pharmacy Administration. After a 7 year stint as an Inpatient Clinical Pharmacy Manager at Baylor Scott and White Medical Center – Fort Worth, she now works as a Senior Pharmacy Executive at Apexus.