Dr. Suparna Venkatesh

🪔 About

Dr. Suparna Venkatesh is a distinguished Indian classical dancer, choreographer, teacher, and mentor, proficient in both Bharatanatyam and Kathak. She began her Bharatanatyam training at the tender age of four under the tutelage of Mangaluru U.S. Krishna Rao, and later continued her studies with Guru Jayalakshmi Alva and Ramakrishna Alva. After moving to Bangalore, she further honed her Bharatanatyam skills under Guru Narmada. Her exposure to various classical dance forms expanded in 1988 when she attended a Natya Shastra Shikshana camp led by Dr. Padma Subramanian, where she first encountered Dr. Maya Rao. Subsequently, she enrolled in the Natya Institute of Kathak and Choreography, where she earned a Bachelor's degree in choreography and received Kathak training from Dr. Maya Rao and Chithra Venugopal. Dr. Venkatesh also refined her expertise in Bharatanatyam, folk traditions, and martial arts under the guidance of Dr. Padma Subramaniam, Guru T.K. Mahalingam Pillai, Guru Sonar Chand, and Guru Shashidhar Acharya. Beyond her extensive training, Dr. Suparna Venkatesh holds a Master's Degree in Arts and Philosophy from Bangalore University and was awarded a Doctorate in 2010 for her research on “Devadasis and their contribution to Indian classical dance forms.” In 1996, she co-founded Sai Arts International with her husband, Sai Venkatesh, where she serves as the Dance Director. Through this institution, she has mentored numerous students, many of whom have successfully completed their Rangapravesha, secured scholarships from cultural ministries, and pursued higher education in dance, including Master's degrees and PhDs. Dr. Venkatesh is particularly recognized for her pioneering work in inclusive dance education, specifically for training visually challenged dancers, some of whom have achieved international recognition. She also contributes academically as a member of the Karnataka Secondary Education Board's textbook committee for Kathak. She and her husband also organize "Sai Nrithyotsav," a monthly dance festival providing a platform for classical dancers. Awards & Honours: Karnataka Kala Shree (2017), Maya Rao Memorial National Award for Dance (2025), Sree Mudra National Award 2025 (2025).