Formed in 2016 by artistic director Antara Bhardwaj, Antara Asthaayi Dance has premiered two performances at the prestigious San Francisco Ethnic Dance Festival (2018, 2019), an evening length production "Anokhi Ada," (2018) that was featured on TV Asia, and headlined for the annual TIE Conference (The Indus Entrepreneurs, 2019). Recent performances include the Peninsula International Dance Festival (2023).

ENSEMBLE BIOS

Riya has trained in kathak since the age of six, at the Chhandam School of Kathak (Pt Chitresh Das) and subsequently with Antara Bhardwaj. She has performed two years consecutively at the prestigious SF Ethnic Dance Festival (2018, 2019) with Antara Asthaayi Dance, and did her first traditional solo piece at Anokhi Ada (2018). She has done collaborative work with over 12 different traditional dance forms in a dance-theater production, Conference of the Birds (2016). Bollywood dance has been a big part of her life since she was as young as three, and she was a dancer with Gurus of Dance for five years. Riya teaches kathak as a form of Dance Movement Therapy, to empower physical and emotional well being. She is currently completing her Bachelor’s degree at the University of California, Berkeley.

RIYA BHATIA

Ojaswee Chaudhary began her kathak journey at the age of 5, first training under the legendary kathak master, Pt. Chitresh Das. She joined with the prestigious Chhandam Youth Dance Company before coming aboard Antara Asthaayi Dance as a dancer and teaching assistant to the next generation of kathak dancers. She has performed at the prestigious SF Ethnic Dance Festival, Mosaic Arts Festival, and did her first traditional solo in 2019. Currently doing her Bachelor’s degree at the University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign, Ojaswee continues her expression of dance in a competitive Raas and Garba team. She also runs her own non-profit, Dandilyonn, empowering youth to combat climate change.

OJASWEE CHAUDHARY

Suhani has trained in kathak since the age of 4, first under Pt. Chitresh Das and the Chhandam Youth Dance Company, followed by Antara Bhardwaj. Upon joining Antara Asthaayi Dance, Suhani also mentors the next generation of kathak students through its Guru-Sisters Program, a big-little sister program fostering community and celebration of Indian heritage and culture. Notable performances include the prestigious SF Ethnic Dance Festival (2018). Suhani is currently pursuing an undergraduate degree from Stanford University and loves to decompress by playing the guitar.

SUHANI CHAUDHARY

Pooja has studied kathak for over 12 years with Gurus Smt. Nirupama Rajendra and Shri T.D. Rajendra in Bangalore, India. She has performed with the Abhinava Dance Company at the prestigious Mysore Dasara Festival, Bangalore International Film Festival and Alvas NudiSiri. She was also featured in their productions of Rama Kathak Vismaya and Padmashali. Pooja continues her kathak education with Guru Parul Shah and Guru Nirmala Madhava, working as a soloist, and collaborative artist. Her collaborative work in Navatman’s Mahabharata (2021) has been selected for film festivals throughout the country. Pooja is also an accomplished vocalist, and has studied Carnatic Music for over 15 years. She has a degree in Electrical Engineering, the field in which she works full-time. 

POOJA GANESH

Sana Indap has immersed herself in the captivating world of kathak dance from age 9. Before joining Antara Asthaayi Dance, she trained with the Chhandam Youth Dance Company under Pt. Chitresh Das. From a young age, Sana's passion for the arts has been unwavering, encompassing dancing, singing, acting, and her main passion of visual arts. In addition to hosting art therapy classes and illustrating multiple children’s books, Sana has also designed the Antara Asthaayi Dance logo. Notable performances include the prestigious SF Ethnic Dance Festival (2018). Currently studying Design Media Arts and Psychology at UCLA, Sana aspires to shape the future of human interaction with technology, seamlessly blending aesthetics and psychology to forge deep connections with users.

SANA INDAP

Meghana Joglekar has trained in kathak dance for over 20 years. She has a penchant for Indian folk dances and Bollywood. She has choreographed and performed at numerous shows in India and throughout the Bay Area, including performances with Chhandam (Pt. Chitresh Das) and Aarat (Deepali Vichare). She has recently started teaching Bollywood dance, alongside her day-job as a tech director for Amazon Music.

MEGHANA JOGLEKAR  

Anya Khatri has trained in kathak for 12 years, initially under the late Pandit Chitresh Das (Chhandam School of Kathak), followed by Antara Bhardwaj in 2017. Anya has performed in numerous prestigious events including San Francisco's Ethnic Dance Festival (2018, 2019) and the Conference of the Birds (2016). Her first kathak solo was debuted in "Anokhi Ada”, an evening length production featured on TV Asia (2018). In addition to kathak, Anya has trained in numerous styles of dance, most notably as a Bollywood dancer and instructor at the Mona Khan Company for 12 years. Currently, Anya continues to share her love for dance as Choreography Captain of her collegiate Bollywood Dance Team, UCSC Kahaani. She is in the process of completing her Bachelor's Degree at the University of California, Santa Cruz.

ANYA KHATRI

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