Join our Spring Artist-in-Residence, Rachana Rao in a welcoming workshop introducing expressive eye and facial movement from the Natyashastra, open to all bodies and experience levels.
February 15 | 3:00pm-4:30 | $15
Rescheduled from January 25
February 15 | 3:00pm-4:30 | $15
Rescheduled from January 25
In this community workshop, participants will be introduced to the expressive language of the eyes and face as described in the Natyashastra, the ancient Indian treatise on performing arts. The session will gently guide participants through foundational eye movements (drishti bhedas), eye-strengthening and awareness exercises. The workshop will culminate in learning to express a few simple phrases or emotions using only the eyes and face, allowing participants to experience the joy of embodied expression rooted in classical Indian performance traditions. No prior dance or performance experience is required—this space is open to all bodies, backgrounds, and levels of familiarity.
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.