Our Instructors
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Virginia Instructor
Bela Palankar Namaste, I am Bela Palankar. I am a Kathak dancer and instructor trained in the Lucknow style of Kathak under Dr. Bratati Saha since 2010. I have had the opportunity to perform at various cultural events, including at the United States Department of State and the Embassy of Bangladesh. I completed my Sangeet Visharad and Rang Manch Pravesh in 2021. Alongside my journey in dance, I completed my Bachelor of Science in Computational & Data Sciences in 2025 and am currently pursuing my master's in data analytics engineering. I have been teaching Kathak for over a year and love sharing the beauty and tradition of this art form with my students. |
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Virginia & Maryland Instructor
Harshita Chaudhari Namaste, I am Harshita Chaudhari. A Kathak dancer and instructor, I have trained in the Lucknow style under the guidance of Dr. Bratati Saha since 2008. My performance journey includes prominent stages such as the World Cultural Festival, the Indian Embassy, and the United States Department of State. In 2021, I reached important milestones in my training by completing both my Sangeet Visharad and Rang Manch Pravesh. Beyond Kathak, I graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Cybersecurity Engineering in 2025 and currently apply my technical background working for the government. I hope to share the joy and beauty of kathak. Dancing has always been a meaningful part of my life and teaching has given me the opportunity to share that with others. It is a privilege to watch students grow through this art form. |
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Las Vegas Lead
Santrupti Margad [email protected] | 571-228-1820 Namaskar, I am Santrupti Margad. I am a Kathak dancer, performer, and instructor. My love for Kathak started in 2008 when I came across Mrs. Bratati Saha in Ashburn, VA and was fortunate enough to start my journey in Kathak under her and still be associated with Arpan Dance Academy. With her blessings I had the opportunity to perform at several cultural and corporate events across Virgina, Maryland and at the AKKA World Kannada Conference at Edison, NJ. Over the years I got personal training with Guru Chitra Venugopal and Late. Guru Dr. Maya Rao’s Natya Institute of Kathak and Choreography in Bangalore and trained for a few years with The Leela Institute in Los Angeles, CA under Ms. Rina Mehta, disciple of Late. Pt. Chitresh Das. I also performed at the ‘Son of the Wind’ with The Leela Institute at the Ford Theatre in Hollywood. My purpose is to share the beautiful art form of Kathak dance, that has such a deep cultural heritage, with as many people as possible and enable them to experience the grace, joy, and spirituality this art form brings. |