Rasika Deshpande

🪔 About

Rasika Deshpande is an accomplished exponent of Indian classical dance, specializing in both Bharatanatyam and Kuchipudi. She is the founder and director of Nrityakala Dance School, located in Sacramento, USA, where she has been imparting training in these art forms for 17 years. Deshpande received her Bharatanatyam training from Kalashiromani Guru Meera Chandrasekharan, under whose guidance she completed her Masters ('Nritya Alankar') through Akhil Bhartiya Gandharva Mahavidyalaya. During her time there, she also assisted in choreography for several dance dramas, often playing lead roles. Her passion for Kuchipudi led her to receive formal training from Guru Jaya Rama Rao and Vanashree Rao. She further honed her Kuchipudi skills at the esteemed Kuchipudi Art Academy Chennai, under the tutelage of Padma Bhushan Guru Dr. Vempati Chinna Satyam. Rasika Deshpande has been honored with the prestigious title of 'Singar Mani' by Sur Singar Samsad, Mumbai, and is a graded artist at Doordarshan Kendra Mumbai. Her extensive performance career includes appearances at various international and national festivals such as Haridas Samaroh Mumbai, Siddhendra Yogi Festival Kuchipudi, Vividh Kala Mahotsav Maharashtra, SPIC-MACAY, Sivapadam Hyderabad, Global Natya Festival Cambodia, 6th Maharashtra Kala Mahotsav MMBA, and Anapale Greece World Dance Festival, Athens. Beyond performing, she is also a Graphics Designer by profession. Through Nrityakala Dance School, Deshpande aims to educate students from diverse backgrounds about the techniques, historical aspects, and traditional roots of Indian Classical dance, promoting and preserving these ancient art forms. Awards & Honours: Singar Mani.