The Making of the California Gharana: Sarah Morelli
Dr. Sarah Morelli has studied India’s performing arts since 1992 and is active as a kathak performer, scholar, and educator. She was blessed to receive much…
The Making of the California Gharana: Seema Mehta
Seema Mehta is Director of Chhandam Nritya Bharati, one of India’s leading Kathak institutions with affiliate schools in North America and Creative Director of…
The Making of the California Gharana: Rukhmani Mehta (previously Rina Mehta)
Rina Mehta brings a singular voice and vision to kathak dance. Rina is a founding artist of the Leela Dance Collective, which brings together leading artists from…
The Making of the California Gharana: Rachna Nivas
The Making Of the California Gharana Rachna NivasWhat were your first experiences like studying kathak with Pandit Chitresh Das? As a member of the South...
The Making of the California Gharana: Farah Yasmeen Shaikh
Farah Yasmeen Shaikh is an internationally touring kathak artist, and the Founder and Artistic Director of Noorani Dance, having received her training…
The Making of the California Gharana: Seibi Lee
Seibi is a leading disciple of Pandit Chitresh Das. She is a Co-Founder of the Leela Dance Collective and Dean of the Chhandam School of Kathak…
The Making of the California Gharana: Pratibha Patel
Pratibha began her study with Pandit Chitresh Das in 1988 and was Guruji’s first student of Indian origin at San Francisco State and at his behest, started…
The Making of the California Gharana: Ronda Berkeley
Ronda Berkeley has been helping writers, directors, producers, programmers and distributors create, buy and sell movies, television and…
The Making of the California Gharana: Noelle Barton
Noelle Barton was born in Hollywood. Raised on the road as a backstage baby, she called Miami Beach, Los Angeles and San Francisco home until her parents…
The Making of the California Gharana: Christopher Ris
Christopher Ris began his study of sarod and vocal music in 1971 under Maestro Ali Akbar Khan. He has since performed as a soloist, with Khansahib’s orchestra…
The Making of the California Gharana: Marni Ris
After a childhood of study and performance with Marin Civic Ballet, Marni Wieser Ris began her kathak training under Pandit Chitresh Das in…
The Making of the California Gharana: Julia Maxwell
Julia Maxwell is a dancer, entrepreneur and author. She co-founded the Chitresh Das Das Dance Company in 1980 and is responsible for incorporating…
The Making of the California Gharana: Joanna de Souza
Coming from a strong music, and figure skating background, Canadian born Joanna de Souza began her life-long study of kathak under the Late Pandit Chitresh Das…
The Making of the California Gharana: Gretchen Hayden
Gretchen Hayden is the daughter of actor/author/seafarer Sterling Hayden and Betty deNoon Hayden, step-daughter of Catherine Devine Hayden. She credits…
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