About Our Founder & Artistic Director

Sreyashi Chakravarty began her Kathak dance training at the age of 4 under the guidance of her teachers, Guru Shanta Chakraborty (her mother) and Padma Shri Guru Rani Karnaa. She has received training in both the Lucknow and Jaipur gharanas of Kathak from her esteemed gurus. Her guru, Padmashree and Sangeet Natak Akademi Awardee Guru Rani Karnaa, was a disciple of Pandit Achchan Maharaj of the Lucknow Gharana (father of Birju Maharaj) and Pandit Sundar Prasad of the Jaipur Gharana, both foundational figures in Kathak dance.

Sreyashi has been continuously practicing the art form for the past 30 years. While she has performed widely in India and the U.S. in prestigious festivals and platforms like Sangeet Natak Academy, Doordarshan, Uday Shankar Dance Festival, India International Arts Festival, and Kalidasa Mahotsava to name a few, she has also been actively involved in a youth-led non-profit organization called SPICMACAY which promotes Indian Classical Dance, Music, and Art among youth. Sreyashi has an impressive track record of achievements, winning numerous prestigious competitions and awards, including titles like Nritya Jyoti and Naveen Kalakar. But the crowning jewel in her collection is undoubtedly the coveted National Fellowship from the Ministry of Culture, Government of India—a rare federal grant awarded to exceptional Indian Classical dancers. Remarkably, she secured this honor for an impressive eight years, a testament to her outstanding talent, dedication, and unparalleled promise in the field. (Read more about her performances here.)

Sreyashi holds the prestigious title of Sangeet Prabhakar from the Prayag Sangeet Samiti, Allahabad, India, a certification that reflects her exceptional expertise and mastery in Indian classical dance and music. In addition to Kathak, Sreyashi is also trained in Rabindra Nritya, a dance style inspired by the works of Nobel laureate Rabindranath Tagore, as well as folk dances of India and creative dances, holding a diploma in these disciplines from Bangiya Sangeet Parishad, India. This diverse training enriches her artistic vision, enabling her to seamlessly integrate classical, cultural, and folk elements into her performances and teaching.

Sreyashi’s passion for dance shines through her work as the founder of Deeksha, a premier Kathak dance institution in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Dedicated to nurturing the next generation of dancers, she pours her heart into teaching, choreography, and building a vibrant community of classical dance enthusiasts. Alongside her work at Deeksha, she is also a professor at the School of Social Work at New Mexico Highlands University, where she specializes in research design and workforce studies. Blending her love for dance and academic expertise, Sreyashi envisions conducting groundbreaking research at the intersection of behavioral health and the impact of the structured rhythmic cycles of Indian classical dance.