Taaleem 2024

Developing the skills to perform, manage costume makeup hair and project the talent under pressure, lights, camera, and in front of a varied audience is an important ability that requires a lot of grooming.

Kathak Dance Collective‘s annual student showcase ‘Taaleem’ provides a professional performing environment for all the students to gain confidence in themselves and hone their skills.

Join us on Sunday June 2nd, 2024 to show your encouragement to our young and upcoming talents who are taking steps in preparing themselves for the world of performing arts.

Doors open at 3:30pm | Show starts at 4pm

About Kathak Dance Collective:

Kathak Dance Collective (KDC) is a South Asian performing arts organization founded by Deepa Devasena with an intent to nurture the development & interactions with Indian dance forms. KDC has earned an unparalleled reputation for large-scale productions, collaborative work with international musicians and local artists alike, to bring the experience of live dance & music experience to a global platform. KDC takes pride in its continued efforts dedicated to building an Indian dance community across a dozen US states and providing the highest caliber of artistic education through short-term and long-term training programs that are designed to develop movement awareness and evolution of Indian classical arts.

About Deepa Devasena:

Deepa Devasena is a professional dancer, choreographer, and ardent student of the Indian Classical Kathak dance form. She has graduated under two stalwarts, the legendary Pt. Birju Maharaj and internationally acclaimed dancing duo Smt. Nirupama and Shri. Rajendra. She also underwent training in the Bharatanatyam form of dance under late Sundari Santanam and Smt. Radha Sridhar was she got the opportunity to feature many times on Indian national television with her mentor’s group.

Deepa has been invited to perform at esteemed festivals and prestigious venues in India, the UK, and all over the USA not only as a solo artist creating original works but also to present collaborations with master musicians. As a member of Abhinava dance company, India and Sujata Banerjee Dance Company, London Deepa has hosted and participated in many large-scale productions like “Romeo and Juliet”, “Rama Katha Vismaya”, “Together we can” to name a few.

Deepa’s talents stretch beyond dancing into the realms of choreography. She is an aesthetic and elaborate choreographer. In 2013, she choreographed the world’s first Bollywood premiere of Fidelio − a German opera by Beethoven for Skylight Music Theater. The opera was also showcased in Times Square New York, received critical acclaim in newspapers and magazines for a fresh approach, creativity, and innovation.

Deepa earned a senior diploma in Kathak from Prayag Sangeet Samiti, Allahabad. She is also a qualified dance teacher who has completed the advanced course scoring distinction from The Imperial Society of Teachers of Dancing (ISTD), one of the world’s leading dance examination boards. In the last two years she has graduated in two diploma courses- Natyasastra- practice & application of Karanas and Kathak Taal marg in Bharata college of fine arts and culture, Mumbai India.

As the founder & artistic director of Kathak Dance Collective, Deepa is actively engaged in training many young dancers, performing, collaborating, and creating new repertoires for dance and teaching all across the USA.

Deepa is currently pursuing her advanced research and studies on Indian aesthetics.