Rinki Das

🪔 About

Rinku Bhattacharya Das is a distinguished Indian classical dancer, choreographer, and teacher, primarily known for her expertise in Manipuri dance. She received rigorous training in Manipuri for two decades under the tutelage of the legendary Guru Bipin Singh and further honed her skills under Padmashri Darshana Jhaveri. Beyond Manipuri, Das also possesses extensive training in Kathak, having studied under Guru Laxmi Narayan, her mother Smt. Mallika Bhattacharya, Guru Parveen Gangani, and Guru Sanjeevani Kulkarni. Since 2009, Rinku Bhattacharya Das has been based in the USA, where she actively promotes Indian culture through classical dance as a full-time teacher and performer. She is the Artistic Director of Nrityajyoti Dance Academy, which operates in both Kolkata, India, and the USA. Her career boasts numerous performances across India and internationally, including prestigious events such as the Erasing Borders Festival in Manhattan, the Tagore Festival in Mumbai, the North American Bengali Conference in Las Vegas, and the Konarak Festival in Orissa. She is also an empanelled artist with the Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR). Das has been recognized with several accolades for her contributions to classical dance. These include the Indian National Scholarship, awarded by West Bengal Governor B.D. Pande when she was five years old, and the Heritage Award for Excellence in Kathak Dance from The Hindu Society of North Carolina in 2009. She also received the Ella Fountain Pratt Emerging Artist Award from the Durham Arts Council in 2012 (also cited as a 2013 grant) and the Naatya Saradhi Award from Nataraj Music & Dance Academy of Vizac in 2014. Her teaching legacy includes mentoring American students, with whom she recently staged a dance production to raise funds for internally displaced persons in Manipur, demonstrating her commitment to using art for social causes. Awards & Honours: Indian National Scholarship, Heritage Award for Excellence in Kathak Dance (2009), Ella Fountain Pratt Emerging Artist Award (2012), Naatya Saradhi Award (2014).