Ritu Daga

🪔 About

Ritu Daga is a prominent Indian classical dance exponent and educator based in the United States, specializing in Bharatanatyam and Kuchipudi. She founded the Nartan Academy of Dance in Overland Park, Kansas, in 1998. Her journey in dance began at the tender age of five, under the tutelage of Guru Smita Shastri at the Nartan School of Classical Dances in Ahmedabad, India. During her training, she completed her Dikshant Samaroh, an equivalent of an arangetram, and was awarded the degree of Nritya Tirtha. Daga's comprehensive training encompassed Bharatanatyam, Kuchipudi, and various folk dances indigenous to Gujarat and other parts of India. After relocating to the United States in 1996, Ritu Daga continued to perform before establishing her own academy. Under her guidance, the Nartan Academy of Dance has become a significant institution for Indian classical dance, training students of all ages in Bharatanatyam and Kuchipudi. Over her more than 25-year teaching career, Daga has mentored over 90 students who have successfully completed their Arangetram, with 86 in Bharatanatyam and 2 in Kuchipudi (Rangapravesam). Beyond teaching, Ritu Daga is actively involved in promoting Indian classical heritage within the Kansas City area. She has played a key role in organizing numerous cultural events and has collaborated with organizations such as the Kansas chapter of SPICMACAY, the Carnatic Music Association, and Alap to bring Indian artists to the region. The Nartan Academy has frequently performed at various Indian associations, ethnic festivals, the Nelson Atkins Museum of Art, and for charity events like those of the Asha Foundation. Daga has also conceptualized and hosted the academy's own dance showcases, titled “Darpana,” in 2010, 2014, and 2018. Her senior students have presented thematic productions such as “Tandav to Tarangam,” “Anubhavam,” and “Indian Heroines of History and Mythology,” demonstrating both Bharatanatyam and Kuchipudi styles. Notably, in 2012, two of her senior students achieved Guinness World Records for their participation in the International Kuchipudi Convention in Hyderabad, India.