Kathak Dance: Meditation in Motion

Rachna Nivas is a kathak soloist, principal member of the Chitresh Das Dance Company (CDDC), senior teacher, Director of the Chhandam School, and a powerful leader amongst her generation of artists. She brings fierce passion, sincerity, and creativity to her performances, displaying the depth of her 17-year training under the legendary master Pandit Chitresh Das.  

In 2013, Rachna developed a new solo work, “Bhakti” - a tour-de-force with a live orchestra, bringing to life the story of a mystic Hindu princess who defied her patriarchal role in Medieval India. Supported by the Alliance for California Traditional Arts, Rachna premiered “Bhakti” at Z Space and was featured as part of the 2014 Walking Distance Festival at ODC. Rachna has also gained global attention for her exhilarating performances of Kathak Yoga, a groundbreaking innovation of her Guru, where the dancer simultaneously sings the rhythmic cycle, plays an instrument, and improvises sophisticated rhythms with the feet. Rachna pioneered the use of the harmonium in this technique and has inspired many of her dance sisters to follow in her footsteps and play harmonium while dancing.

As a community organizer, Rachna has been instrumental in building a premiere cultural academy and is a tireless arts advocate. She has been featured on KQED’s Forum and numerous other media outlets. Her vision is that art be a tool for identity empowerment, social justice, and self-actualization.

Accompanied by leading musicians from India:
Jayanta Banerjee, Sitar
Vaibhav Mankar, Vocal