Anwesha Das

🪔 About

Anwesha Das is a distinguished Bharatanatyam dancer, recognized as one of the leading practitioners of her generation. Born in Odisha, brought up in Tamil Nadu, and now settled in the USA, she is a senior disciple of the renowned Guru Smt. Urmila Sathyanarayanan, under whom she trained in the Vazhuvoor Bani. Her career as a Bharatanatyam exponent began with her debut in 2000, and since then, she has performed over 100 solo recitals across India, the USA, and the UK. Anwesha is a graded artiste of Doordarshan, India's national television channel, and is empaneled with the Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR). She is a regular performer at the prestigious Margazhi Music and Dance festival in Chennai every December, where her performances have garnered critical acclaim from leading Indian dance critics such as Late Shri. Subbudu and Ms. Leela Venkataraman. In 2007, Anwesha moved to the United States, initially balancing her dance career with a role as a Business Analyst until 2010, before dedicating herself fully to her art. She is the founder and artistic director of Natya Shakti, her dance school located in Bothell, Washington, where she offers intensive Bharatanatyam training rooted in traditional lexicon. Her commitment to promoting Indian classical dance extends to organizing events, such as the Seattle Youth Dance Festival, which she successfully conducted online during the pandemic. Anwesha has also been honored as a Master in the Washington State Heritage Arts Apprenticeship program in both 2019 and 2022. Awards & Honours: Nadanamamani (2014), Yuva Kala Bharati, Natya Chudar (2004), Best Dancer, Natya Saradhi, Nritya Shiromani, Nritya Damini, Master in the Washington State Heritage Arts Apprenticeship program (2019), Master in the Washington State Heritage Arts Apprenticeship program (2022).