ABOUT RACHNA
Performer, Choreographer, and educator Rachna Ramya Agrawal 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. In addition to her degrees in dance, Rachna also received a senior diploma in Classical Indian vocal music from Prayag Sangeet Samiti and a Master's degree in Hindi Literature from Delhi University.
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.
She was also a recipient of 1994-1995 apprenticeship award given by the New England Foundation for the Arts and worked as a Master artist for the organization. Presently Rachna is working for Young Audiences of Connecticut, an honored arts-in-education organization and is listed on YAC Artist roster. Rachna has won many awards in dance, including a gold medal from Prayag Sangeet Samiti, in recognition of her Kathak skill. Along with giving performances, lecture demonstrations, workshops, and residencies in schools, universities, and private organizations, Rachna is currently teaching at the India Performing Arts Center in Connecticut. She is also on teaching faculty at Kathak Nritya Kala Kendra in Chicago.
Rachna has performed extensively and has been featured many times on Indian national television. Her performances and workshops include World Music Institute, NY; Museum of Natural History, NY; Harvard University, MA; University of Oklahoma, University of Massachusetts, Brooklyn Center for the Performing Arts, University of Connecticut, University of Hartford, CT; Southern Connecticut State University, Citylore, NY; Polyhedron, Chicago and various other colleges, museums, dance organizations and dance festivals. Rachna also is a published author of a novel written in Hindi, titled "Digbhramit."
