Join our Spring Artist-in-Residence, Rachana Rao in a workshop introducing chāris, the fundamental movement patterns described in the Natyashastra, which form the essential building blocks for karaṇas.
February 1 | 3:00pm-4:30 | $15
February 1 | 3:00pm-4:30 | $15
This session will focus on learning a few select chāris and understanding how they interconnect to give rise to karaṇas. Through guided practice, participants will experience how weight shifts, direction, rhythm, and intention come together to create expressive and structured movement. Emphasis will be placed on clarity of posture, coordination, and embodied awareness. Designed as an open and inclusive space, this workshop welcomes participants of all backgrounds and movement experience.
Whether you are new to classical Indian dance or seeking to deepen your understanding of its foundational principles, this session offers a hands-on opportunity to engage with the living grammar of the Natyashastra and experience movement as both discipline and discovery.
More about the Artist-in-Residence:
Rachana Rao is a distinguished Indian classical dancer celebrated for her seamless mastery of Bharatanatyam, the Karanas, and Kuchipudi. Her artistry is marked by expressive storytelling, rhythmic precision, and a graceful synthesis of tradition and modernity. Through her performances, Rachana transcends cultural and geographical boundaries—offering audiences a timeless experience rooted in classical heritage yet resonant with contemporary relevance.
Internationally, she has graced prominent stages, including her performance as an IndianRaga Fellow (2019) at the historic Howdy Modi event in Houston, Texas. Rachana’s commitment to artistic exchange extends beyond performance—she has conducted global workshops with Aalaap and Samarpan, fostering resilience and creativity within the dance community during the pandemic.
In 2025, she continues her artistic evolution as an Agora Cohort Artist for the Seeds Festival and as a featured artist in the AT&T Performing Arts Center’s Elevator Project, alongside appearances at Over the Bridges Arts – Burning Women Festival and the Texas Dance Improvisation Festival. With over 500 performances across India and the United States, Rachana’s work thrives at the intersection of intercultural collaboration, pedagogy, and performance.
Her contributions to the arts have earned her numerous honors, including the Yuva Prathibha Award and Yuva Prathibha Ratyotsava Award from the Government of Karnataka, the ICCR Dance Scholarship, and the Natya Mayuri Award from the Gadag Culture Department. A Graded Artist of Doordarshan (Hyderabad and Bangalore) and an Empaneled Artist with Sankalp, Delhi, Rachana continues to dedicate her practice to preserving, evolving, and sharing the rich legacy of Indian classical dance.