Ritasha - Kathak Dance School (Columbus, IN)

Ritasha – a blend of two powerful female dancers – Rita Mustaphi and Asha Joglekar – is a dance school dedicated to practicing Indian Classical Dance – Kathak – in its most traditional form. The dance classes are currently conducted in Columbus, Indiana. Teachings include – basics of dance movement, posture and stance corrections, stamina building, Kathak compositions on live music (tabla and sitar), Kathak musical compositions on Sargam, Thumri, Tarana and so on.
Dancers who show exceptional talent and dedication towards the art form are encouraged to perform at events in Columbus, Carmel, Indy and neighboring cities. Examinations are not conducted at this point, there is an opportunity to tie-up with local universities and colleges to expand the reach of Indian Classical Arts.

Prachee Palekar, the instructor of Ritasha, is a Bachelor of Arts in Kathak (2000), holds the India Govt. Scholarship for Arts (1999, 2000) and has been practicing Kathak for over 20 years. Prachee teaches over 30 students in her studio, and also continues to learn from her Guru in Minnesota. Apart from dance, Prachee is a full-time employee at Cummins and an even more full-time mom of 2 young girls.