Rachna Ramya Agrawal
Kathak (Classical Indian Dance)

Rachna Ramya Agrawal, is a noted performer, choreographer, singer, educator, and published author, who has studied the Lucknow style of Kathak under Smt. Maya Rao, recipient of Sangeet Natak Academy award, and the Jaipur style of kathak under Guru Rajendra Gangani, an exponent of Kathak. She has undergone for further training in expressive and interpretative aspects of Kathak from Smt. Sandhya Desai, a Kathak virtuoso. Rachna received a Master's degree in dance from the prestigious Pracheen Kala Kendra in India. She also trained in Choreography at the Natya Institute of Choreography in New Delhi, India. To complement her degrees in dance, Rachna has also won many dance awards, including a gold medal from Prayag Sangeet Samiti, in recognition of her Kathak skill. She holds a senior diploma in Classical Indian vocal music, and Masters degrees in Hindi Literature and Business administration.

The State of Connecticut, Commission on the Arts selected Rachna as a Master Teaching Artist in 1993 and she is currently listed in their Master Teaching Artist roster. Recipient of the 1994-1995 apprenticeship award given by the New England Foundation for the Arts she has continued to worked as a Master artist for the organization. Presently Rachna's passion is working with Young Audiences of Connecticut, an arts-in-education organization, teaching at the India Performing Arts Center in CT, at Antarnaad in San diego, and at Trinity College, Hartford, CT.