Deepa Devasena

🪔 About

Deepa Devasena, born in Chidambaram, Tamil Nadu, India, is a dedicated Kathak dancer of the Lucknow Gharana style, who has established a significant presence in the Greater Milwaukee Area, USA, since 2003. She is the artistic director of the "Arabhi School of Indian Dance," also known as Aarabhi Indian Dance School and Kathak Dance Collective, through which she propagates the classical art form. Devasena's extensive training encompasses both Kathak and Bharatanatyam. In Kathak, she has been a diligent student of the Lucknow style, learning from esteemed gurus including Ms. Kiran Chouhan, a senior disciple of the legendary Pandit Birju Maharaj. Her tutelage also includes direct guidance from Pandit Birju Maharaj himself, Saswati Sen, Jai Kishan Maharajji, and the renowned dance duo Nirupama and Rajendra Gangani, who further deepened her understanding of Kathak's expressive and interpretative aspects. For Bharatanatyam, she received her training under the late Sundari Santanam and Smt. Radha Sridhar, gaining opportunities to perform extensively at esteemed festivals and feature on Indian national television with her mentors' groups. Academically, Devasena holds a diploma in Bharatanatyam from Bangalore University and a bachelor's degree in Kathak from Allahabad University. Her commitment to the theoretical foundations of Indian performing arts is further evidenced by her three senior diplomas in Kathak, Bharatanatyam, and Natyashastra. While pursuing her passion for dance, she also achieved a master's degree in computers. Beyond classical dance, her diverse experience includes Bhangra, Bollywood, Bellydance, and various Indian folk and regional art forms. As a choreographer, Devasena has earned critical acclaim. A notable achievement was in 2013, when she choreographed the world's first Bollywood premiere of Beethoven's German opera "Fidelio" for the Skylight Music Theater. This innovative production was showcased on Times Square and received significant critical reviews in newspapers and magazines. She also successfully conducted a two-week Kathak workshop in August 2015 for her students, culminating in the recital "Jhoom 2015," under the guidance of Nirupama and Rajendra. Her creative endeavors extend to original productions like 'Satrangi Re' in Houston and the solo production 'Maya' in North Carolina. Through the Kathak Dance Collective, she actively nurtures and trains aspiring dancers across 14 cities in the USA, imparting the essence of these dance forms through certification, master classes, and long-term courses.