Sharmila Bansal Rao

🪔 About

Dr. Sharmila Rao, also known as Sharmila Bansal Rao, is a distinguished Bharata Natyam dancer and teacher based in Switzerland. Born in 1980, she began her journey in classical Indian dance at the tender age of five, receiving her initial training from Guru Shri Pathagudi S. Ramaswamy. Her further education in Bharata Natyam was guided by her mother, Smt. Vijaya Rao, a pioneer of the art form in Switzerland. Sharmila Rao made her stage debut, or Arangetram, in 1992 at the age of 12. Her extensive career spans over 40 years of dancing and more than 25 years of teaching experience. She toured Europe for two decades in various productions and performed in India. Notable performances include lead roles in Bharata Natyam plays like “Alaghar Kuravanji” and “Om Namah Shivaya,” choreographed by Guru Sri Pathagudi S. Ramaswamy, and tours with dance theaters such as “Savitri” and “Abhijnana Shakuntalam,” choreographed and directed by her mother, Vijaya Rao. Academically, Sharmila Rao holds a Master's degree in Indology, Social Anthropology, and Educational Science from the University of Zurich (2008) and completed a doctoral thesis with summa cum laude, focusing on the transfer of poetry into dance using Bharata Natyam. She also pursued extensive musical training, studying South Indian classical (Carnatic) music for 20 years and Western classical music (flute and piano) for over a decade. In 2010, she earned a diploma as a teacher and accompanying singer from the Nateschwara Academy. Since 2016, Sharmila Rao has been leading her own institution, the Sharmila Rao Dance School, with locations in Zurich-Altstetten and Wettingen, Switzerland. The school offers regular Bharata Natyam classes for children starting from 3 years and for adults of all levels. She is dedicated to integrating traditional Indian dance with a health-focused teaching approach, emphasizing a deeper understanding of the art form. Awards & Honours: Natya Mayuri (1999), Natyakala Sudarshini (2009), Dedication Excellency Award (2009).