Best Indian Dance Classes & Studios in New York, NY

From the Business:Rajika Puri is an internationally acclaimed exponent of two forms of Indian classical dance - Bharata Natyam and Odissi - which she performs in solo recital all over Europe, the United States, Latin America, and India. Career highlights include a command performance for the President of Mexico.Since 1986, when she was cast as'Narrator/the goddess Kali' in Lincoln Center Theater's The Transposed Heads, directed by Julie Taymor, she has also had a unique career on the western stage, often bringing to her roles the richness of the Indian theatre tradition she was initially trained in.Based in New York for over twenty years, Rajika moved to Mumbai, (Bombay) for six years in 1992 and was inspired by an artistic milieu that encouraged new directions in the performing arts. A landmark project of 1998 was Flamenco Natyam, a blend of Flamenco with Bharata Natyam, presented at the Works & Process series of the Guggenheim Museum in New York, and then on tour in India.Trained since childhood in classical Indian dance and music - her Bharata Natyam guru was Sikkil Guru Ramaswamy Pillai, her Odissi Gurukul is that of Deba Prasad Das - Rajika has also studied western music (the voice and piano), American Modern Dance (at the Graham & Cunningham studios in New York), and Flamenco.In 1983 she received an MA in The Anthropology of Human Movement from New York University, specializing in how meaning is made through movements such as the hand gesture (hasta mudra) system of classical Indian theatre.Read more

From the Business:Lavesh Pritmani began teaching Bhangra at Natya Academy in North Carolina in 2006. For 10 years, he taught 300+ students and started the independent (non-collegiate) Bhangra movement in NC. He established over 20 teams (youth and competitive), performing across North America at cultural, diversity, corporate, competitive, and social events. Bhangra is a high-energy folk dance from the Punjab region of South Asia. You may have seen it performed at the Olympics, dance shows, or Bollywood movies. This class will emphasize technique and fundamentals culminating in a fun piece of choreography by the end of the class.Read more

From the Business:Indian Classical Bharatanatyam dance, dancing styles & schools Bharatanatyam dance Originated from Tamil Nadu state in Southern India having unique style that boasts strength & beauty. Bharat Natyam style has balanced and dynamic positions. In Indian traditional classical dance forms, BharataNatyam dance is like a diamond and has many dancing steps to be in rhythm and expressive positions, Adavus or Nritta steps, a beautiful combination of melody & rhythm, poetry & drama, expression & sculpture, colours and traditions. This makes Bharatanatyam world’s most popular Indian classical dance form, the major styles & schools of dancing include Kalakshetra, Pandanallur Thanjavur, Mellatur, Kalamandalam & Vazhuvoor. Carnatic music vocal singing & playing instruments Saraswati Veena, Violin, Bamboo Flute Venu, Mridangam drum & Tanpura can be a part of the dance performance by dancers.Read more

From the Business:Dakshina Palli is under the direction of Jaan R. Freeman who teaches in the style of the late great dancer T. Balasaraswati. Mr. Freeman is a disciple of Smt. Nandini Ramani & Smt. Priyamvada Sankar senior disciples of Balasaraswati. Dakshina offers classes in Bharatanatyam, full-length concerts, student recital, Contemp-natyam and programs by the Dakshina Palli Dance co.Read more

From the Business:Natyarambha is a first of its kind portal for Bharatanatyam, an arts education initiative of Shankarananda Kalakshetra.Read more

From the Business:Menka's Dance Academy,Offering classes in Kathak, Folk, and Film dance. Menka Kakar has been trained in Indian as well as American dance. She has been performing professionally since 1991and teaching since 1993. Menka's Dance Academy offers private as well as group classes. A recital is held at the end of every school year.Read more

From the Business:We teach dances that we are passionate about. We teach modern and traditional forms of Bollywood and Bhangra Folk Dance among other popular World dances. We are the first to introduce dance classes in Bollywood and Bhangra form to the East Coast of the U.S. and have taught thousands of people from around the globe since our inception in 2003. We provide a rich, fun, challenging, and diverse dance environment for all our students from our beginner students to those who major in other dance discipline. We share the love of Bollywood & Bhangra dance! We teach the ability to express dance movements freely at any age or level and aim to inspire each student to dance the best they can while having fun & keeping fit. Keeping current with the latest dance moves from India, we incorporate our own unique and explosive choreography skills. Our Instructors recognize each dancer as individuals.Read more

From the Business:We're passionately committed to connecting you with teachers that will help you achieve your personal dance goals. Studio owner, Jessica Hayden, has hand-picked partners that provide high-quality instruction in an unintimidating atmosphere that’s welcoming to ”movers" of all levels - especially beginners! We love what we do and we believe in you, because every day, we see the results.Offering NYC Pole Dancing, Zumba, Bellydance, Hip-Hop, Club Dance, Bollywood, Ballet, Burlesque, Salsa, Yoga. NYC Dance Classes in a fun and down to earth atmosphere for all levels. Anyone can dance. Shockra is an unitimidating dance atmosphere with the most professional dance instructors in New York. If you are unsure where to begin as a beginner or overwhelmed by larger, even the most "beginner" dance classes conducted in the city.Read more

From the Business:Dance is one of the most expressive crafts known to mankind. People of all ages and preferences admire dance and, people in India are no different. In our country, there is a song and dance for virtually every season and reason. Despite so much love towards this art, people are averse to the idea of taking up dancing as a profession. It is a common perception among people that dancing is not a respectable way of earning a living. Fortunately, things have changed a lot since Zenith Dance Academy opened its doors 20 years ago. With every step we take, with every move we make; we bring our students closer to dance and help to build their passion into a profession. Or simply, teach what they love doing the most, i.e., DANCE!!!Read more

From the Business:Strings'N'Steps ( A Class for the Mass : An academy of Indian classical music and dance ). India's first Online and offline academy. This is the official page of 'Strings N Steps', a registered organization under society act.Read more

From the Business:Doonya aspires to be the globally accessible fitness lifestyle for women and their families that instills confidence in body and mind, energizing them to be sources of joy to all who surround them. Through Bollywood-inspired movement, we blend science and art with awareness and expression. We stand at the intersection of Eastern and Western outlooks on wellness, celebrating the oneness of all cultures. At Doonya, you’ll follow along to cardio and conditioning intervals of varying intensity, each activating major muscle groups of the abs, arms and legs. The energy and expressions of Bollywood-inspired music and dance will keep you smiling as you burn up to 800 calories while learning dance and fitness fundamentals.Read more

From the Business:Lalitha Cosme is a dancer, instructor and choreographer. Her unique style is deeply rooted in traditional training and juxtaposed with an inventive merging of varied dance forms. While training in the disciplines of Classical Kathak, Odissi, Indian Folk, Ballet and Contemporary dance styles; Lalitha is seasoned in performance arts, storytelling (Abhinaya) technique and ritualistic/folk dance traditions. She teaches workshops on dance forms, techniques and delivers lectures on Abhinaya and spatial awareness. This eclectic group brings Indian Folk dance and Indo-Contemporary Performance Art to the forefront, throughout the Tri-State area and beyond.Read more

From the Business:Natyanikethan School of Indian Classical and Folk Dance was founded by Guru Kantham Chatlapalli with the mission to create interest and develop passion for Indian dance. For the last 30 years, Kantham Chatlapalli has used this medium to teach patience, discipline, and commitment through the ancient classical art form of Kuchipudi. The school's methodology focuses on keeping instructional groups small, consisting of 3 to 4 students, to allow individual attention. Lessons permit students to not only learn the dance form, but the traditions and culture of India. Through this unique and specialized technique, Natyanikethan has been able to produce dancers that have gone on to affect the reputation of Kuchipudi in the United States. Kantham has trained students in India, Ethiopia, and the US and has organized performances to promote the rich cultural ancestry behind Kuchipudi.Read more

From the Business:World renowned dancing couple Raja and Radha Reddy have given a new dimension to the age old art of Kuchipudi dance without sacrificing the traditional poetry or dramatic sensibility. With rare excellence and perfection of technique they have earned the credit for Kuchipudi's high ranking among the major dance forms in India. They hail from the state of Andhra Pradesh, the birthplace of Kuchipudi style of Indian classical dance.Read more

From the Business:I am one of the most distinguished Dance Classes in New York, NY. I specialize in Kuchipudi Dance Classes.At present due to Covid-19, we are only open with Online Dance Classes. 32 hours a month including dance, stretching & flexibility sessions. Theory is also focused to all the batches. IST & EST timings. One on One & Group Sessions available.Read more

From the Business:Rozina Gilani has been an avid student, performing artist and teacher of Bharatanatyam for the past 15 years. Also trained in ballet / contemporary dance and experienced in a variety of Indian Folk dances, Rozina uses her vast knowledge of these styles to create pure classical as well as fusion choreography coursework for beginner to advanced levels. She completed her Arangetram ceremony in July of 2004 and since then has been teaching private / group lessons, teaching workshops abroad and performing for special events and onstage productions. Read more

From the Business:BnB’s Goal is to infuse traditional Indian Dance styles with a modern form, which helps us keep the eastern and western cultures together. Inspired by the world of Bollywood Cinema, the mission at Beauty and a Beat Dance Company is to spread our pure love and passion for dance. We offer a variety of classes that infuse traditional dance styles with a modern touch creating a perfectly balanced blend of dance rhythm and fitness. The classes are based on simple yet exciting steps to constantly keep you moving and on your toes. Choreography styles include Hip-Hop, Contemporary, Bhangra, Bollywood Filmy, and various forms of Classical dancing. We also serve in the following location: New Jersey, Las Vegas, Chicago.Read more

From the Business:Sridhar Shanmugam's passion has always been to create awareness and a truly appreciative audience of this unique and rich classical tradition; working ceaselessly towards placing Indian Classical dance and music forms on the world pedestal. This idea started from his exacting and intense training at the Kalakshetra school of dance (one of the most prestigious school of dance from India), and his later training in Rangoli painting, modern and post-modern dance, acting, choreography, stage lighting theatre & stage technique have only served to further this goal.Read more

From the Business:Tatyana Popova, a versatile artist hails from the multicultural city Almaty, Kazakhstan.Tatyana is a bachelor degree holder from different universities of dance, for each discipline in country of its origin. Since taking her first dance steps at age of six, she has continued her trajectory across the world, taking part in different companies and training in prestigious dance academies including the J. Elebekov Music and Dance Academy in Almaty, Kazakhstan, where she strove to perfect her interpretations of Russian, Kazakh and World character dances and ballet. She feels fortunate to have been given the scholarship by ICCR (Indian consul of Culture Relationships) to study Bharatanatyam for six years in Chennai, India, at the University of fine arts .Read more

From the Business:The Leela Dance NYC Initiative is under the nationally-based Leela Dance Collective, co-founded by senior disciples of the kathak stalwart, Pandit Chitresh Das. Led by internationally acclaimed artist, Rachna Nivas, and assisted by NYC-based dancer Dien Magno, the aim of this program is to bring exposure to New York City, the philosophies and principles of a leading legacy in Indian classical dance. Bringing to NYC a world-renowned pedagogy of kathak, dynamic classical dance from North India, deeply rooted in tradition with cutting-edge relevance. In the wake of legendary kathak master Pt. Chitresh Das'' passing, a handful of his senior disciples came together to discuss how to move forward his legacy and the rich art form of kathak. What emerged from that dialoge is The Leela Dance Collective, a home for those artists seeking to develop their individual creative voices while working collaboratively to forward a collective vision for kathak dance. Founding Artists: Rina Mehta, Seibi Lee, Rachna Nivas, Sarah Morelli and Shefali Jain.Read more

From the Business:This dance school has been serving the Jackson Heights area for over a decade, with new branch in Manhattan. We specialize in teaching two styles of Indian classical dances: Kathak and Kuchipudi. Enrollment is open for both kids and adults and they are taught with utmost care. Each class is tailored to progressively prepare the students for stage performance and develop appreciation for these beautiful art forms. Strong emphasis is given on the elements required to become a classical dancer. The ultimate mission is to maintain and propagate the rigors and beauty of Kathak and Kuchipudi dance styles to the next generation of the New York metro area and beyond. NEELA DANCE ACADEMY (NDA) is a school for Kathak & Kuchipudi dance training in New York city. Headed by classical dancer Dr. Neela Zareen, a disciple of Guru Sadhana Paranji and Guru Prerana Deshpande, the school is dedicated to propagating the knowledge of Kuchipudi and Kathak dances forms to the next generation. Dance studio branches are located in the heart of Jackson Heights, Queens & Manhattan, NYC. New students are welcome to enroll. Based in New York, Dr. Neela Zareen has trained in Indian classical dance styles of Kuchipudi under the tutelage of her Kuchipudi Guru Sadhana Paranji and Kathak under the tutelage of her Kathak Guru Prerana Deshpande. She has performed Kuchipudi and Kathak on various occasions in the tristate area for over two decades. With the blessings and guidance of her Gurus, Neela began her dance school Neela Dance Academy, where she teaches traditional Kathak and Kuchipudi. She is passionate about propagating her art forms to the next generation in their purest form. Neela also participates as a judge and advisor for classical dance competitions held by the Nataraj Dance Showcase located in New Jersey. In parallel with her dance career, Neela works as a postdoctoral neuroscientist at the City College of the City University of New York.Read more

From the Business:Natya Bharathi Kuchipudi Academy is focused towards raising awareness about Indian classical dance form, Kuchipudi through instructional classes and performances. The training includes Rangapravesham training for students who had couple of years training from any school and willing a change with seriousness and passion for Kuchipudi dance.Kuchipudi basic training includes steps (adugulu), combined with "Jaathis" with beat(tallam) speeds. Basic and Advanced items (songs) are set to a particular raga and jaathi. Students of Natya Bharati have been actively participating at different local events and competitions in temples and online . Smt. Aparna Nadendla, of Natya Bharathi Kuchipudi Academy is the disciple of famous Kuchipudi exponent, Parmasri -Dr. Shobha Naidu garu. She has widely performed in many places all over India and in US. She holds the prestigious Natya Visharada from Kuchipudi Art Academy, in Hyderabad. She uses dance as a medium of expression to raise cultural awareness among the community. Kuchipudi presentations are Solo’s and as Dance dramas of mythological stories.Read more

From the Business:Marga Dance Company will commence online Bharathanatyam dance classes for US residents via zoom. I take classes for the age group 6 and above. Children as well as grown ups. Upper age limit is based on interest and fitness of the person wanting to learn. I have revised my fee structure. It is 25 dollars per person for a group of not more than four persons. And 35 dollars for individual classes on one to one basis. I teach for beginners as well as advanced students.Read more

From the Business:Trained in Chennai, India - 30 years of dedicated teaching, keeping an eye on tradition - Maximize student potential - Plenty of opportunities to showcase talent - Dance related YOGA exercises Read more

From the Business:Being a professional Bharatanayam dancer since age of 6 and 5 Years of experience in teaching and has given a number of performances all over India. Mangai Dance Academy is a school dedicated to classical dance Education and drives to promote an interest in and enthusiasm for Bharatanatyam amongst the young peopel of today. We offering a holistic and fluid grace of the Thanzavoor style curriculum and More importantly students are taught to understand and appreciate the subtle and non-competitive environment.Training will be in both theoretical and practical aspects of Bharatanatyam , when student achieves the level of finess in dance then provided opportunity to perform various performances in stage. Bharatanatyam to students ages 5 and above. Bharatnatyam-pure classical,student will learn 3 level aspects to dance; Nritta, Nritya and Natya. Nritta is a pure dance without any emotions or expressions and It involves rhythmic dance were movements of the body do not convey any mood or meaning.Nritya involves emotions and expressions, where the lyrics of the song are conveyed using hand gestures (hasta mudras) and facial expressions (abhinaya).Natya means dramatic representation or drama with speech, music and dancing. Natya is combination of Nritta & Nritya.Read more