Today we’d like to introduce you to Sunaina Rao.
Sunaina, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
I am blessed to have trained in the field of Kathak, a north Indian Classical dance style, since the age of six under the guidance of my mother and guru, Mrs. Akhila Rao. My mom is the disciple of Kathak stalwarts, Guru Shri. Ganesh Hiralal and the late Guru Smt. Asha Joglekar.
Born in Mumbai, India, I moved to the United States in 2001 and continued learning and practicing Kathak as a means to stay in touch with my cultural roots, express my creative potential, and for physical, mental and spiritual well being. I was blessed to be provided with numerous opportunities to showcase my passion for Kathak across the United Sates and India throughout my dance career. I was awarded the title of “Singaar Mani” (Jewel of Dance) by the Sur Singaar Samsad (Mumbai) for my performance at the prestigious Kal-Ke-Kalakar Sangeet Sammelan in 2010 and in 2016 honored with the title of “Nritya Gandharva” (Exceptionally Versed in Dance) by Madhyam, an organization showcasing upcoming solo Indian classical dancers from across the USA. In addition to performing, with rigorous practical & written examinations as well as repertoire presentations, I earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Kathak through Samved Conservatory of Indian Classical Music and Dance, New Jersey in 2016 and I’m currently working on the Masters program.
In 2011, my mom and I formally established our dance school, Kathak Rhythms in Plano, Texas. While classes are primarily led by my mom at our Plano and Coppell locations, I teach classes in Southlake. Teaching Kathak to kids, teens and adults is a rewarding experience – the joy of being able to share my passion for Kathak is unparalleled and it has instilled in me the ambition, discipline, and rigor to always be improving.
Besides my passion for Kathak, professionally I completed my Doctor of Pharmacy degree in 2013, went on to pursue a PGY1/PGY2 Health-System Pharmacy Administration Residency along with a MS in Pharmacy Practice at University of Kansas Hospital. I am currently the Clinical Pharmacy Manager at Baylor Scott and White All Saints Medical Center in Fort Worth, Texas.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
Personally, I am fortunate to have pursued my dance training and performances while balancing the demands of school and college. Over the course of my undergraduate and graduate school, I have had to take intermittent breaks from dance practice and performance and it took a lot of time and energy each time to build my stamina and fluidity back up to par.
In the initial years of our dance school, we struggled with finding a permanent location and relied upon renting studio spaces in various locations. After we were able to gather sufficient funds, we were very excited to call our Plano location our home in 2011! In our 2000 sq. ft. studio which is purpose-built for Kathak Rhythms, we feature a large 1800 sq ft. space that can be used as two independent and fully-functional studios when separated by our custom sound-proof collapsible wall.
Lastly, a challenge common to all Indian classical dance schools is that the tradition of learning a classical style has been fading in recent decades as more popular Bollywood dancing takes over. At Kathak Rhythms, we have deliberately stayed away from the deviations of “Bolly-culture” as we firmly believe that by staying true to traditions our students extend their skills and learning into their academic and professional lives, with a thorough knowledge of the dance form and appreciation of Indian art and culture.
Alright – so let’s talk business. Tell us about Kathak Rhythms – what should we know?
Native to northern India, Kathak is one of the eight classical Indian dance forms. The name ‘Kathak’ is derived from the Sanskrit word ‘Katha’ or story and a Kathakaar is a storyteller. Kathakaars portrayed epic tales from Hindu scriptures to the accompaniment of music, mime, and dance in temples. One special period of repeated invasions of India sets it apart from the multitude of classical Indian dances: Kathak is the only Indian dance form to have been directly and deeply influenced by the arrival and rule of northern and central India by the Mughals, an Islamic dynasty from Persia.
Behind Mughal palace walls, the emotional and graceful storytelling Hindu roots merged with the more technical postures, rhythmic mathematics of Islam. The mesmerizing precise and pulsating footwork, the graceful yet detailed carriage of the upper body, hand placements, and facial expressions as well as the varied costumes demonstrate Kathak’s diverse cultural influences.
Kathak Rhythms was formally established in 2011 as a dance school in the Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW) Metroplex. With a focus on nurturing the culture and tradition of Kathak style of Indian classical dance, we have built a large pool of trained dancers, teachers and audience for Kathak in the Metroplex. We have 3 locations in DFW – Plano, Coppell and Southlake – where hundreds of students are being trained.
Kathak Rhythms’ mission is to establish Kathak as a mainstream dance form, by training future generations to continue the tradition, share its richness with cultures and geographies around the world, while building an audience base that appreciates this style of Indian classical dance.
Our training is based on a structured curriculum, both practical and theoretical, to assimilate and measure progress for those who wish to make Kathak their profession, as a performer or teacher, or for those taking up the art form as a leisurely or cultural activity.
The school is proud to have students who have achieved a Bachelors of Arts in Kathak in 2016, after 10-12 years of intensive training at Kathak Rhythms, and many more senior students are ready to follow in their footsteps.
Apart from the success of our students and we are most proud about our annual recital, Kathak Bahaar, which is the largest Kathak event in the Metroplex with an audience composed of over 750 students, parents, supporters and Indian classical art connoisseurs. Set to a unique theme each year, the event focuses on various aspects of the dance form, as well as combining it with educative content. This provides an exceptional opportunity to every participating student at the school as well as a rich experience to the audience. It has helped build an educated and informed audience for this form of classical Indian dance, resulting in increased participation and recognition for Kathak programs and appreciation for this style.
Besides pure Kathak presentations, unique collaborations with Western dance styles like Flamenco and Ballet as well as Indian classical styles are experimented with, to showcase the diversity and richness of the dance forms, performing to the universal language of rhythm and music.
Any shoutouts? Who else deserves credit in this story – who has played a meaningful role?
Central to the success of Kathak Rhythms are our dedicated students. They inspire and challenge us to raise the bar with every passing year in our teaching methods as well as our performances. Our students also make for a unique audience – one who really know and care about Kathak and it is an inspiration for the teachers of our dance school to participate in their development and education.
Contact Info:
- Address: 4020 Hedgecox Rd,
Ste 150, Plano, Texas 25024 - Website: www.kathakrhythms.com
- Phone: 469-443-8225
- Email: kathakrhythms@gmail.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kathakrhythms/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Kathak-Rhythms-237708866253418/
Image Credit:
Photo 1: Dilip Rane Photography
Photo 2: Amit Kelkar
Photo 3: Dilip Rane Photography
Photo 4: SPV Studio – Prasad Golkonda
Photo 5: SPV Studio – Prasad Golkonda
Photo 6: Dilip Rane Photography
Photo 7: SPV Studio – Prasad Golkonda
Getting in touch: VoyageDallas is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
