Shambhavi Dandekar

Success Story

Started her training at the tender age of 4, under the able guidance of her own mother Guru Pta. Maneesha Sathe
Originally from Pune, India, she lives in the San Francisco Bay Area and is the Founder-Director at SISK – Shambhavi’s International School of Kathak
Active performance career of 34 years ; has performed in more than 120 cities in 13 countries worldwide.
A Guru and mentor to 19 young dancers who pursue Kathak as their full time profession ; trains hundreds of students from all over the world.
Named one of the ‘101 Social Change Makers of Silicon Valley’ in 2023, by the UK based organization ‘A Human Atlas’ in the project ‘De.Coded’, a coffee table book and an app.
Diplomatic Cultural Engagements: Delivered solo performances at Indian Embassies and Consulates in Germany, The Netherlands and Switzerland – 2023
Leadership in the Dance Community: Served as a panelist at the prestigious 41st San Francisco Ethnic Dance Festival in 2019
Has led the annual Gurukul Kathak Retreat since 2015, a keystone for the American Kathak community, offering an immersive learning experience in Gurukul style. This retreat promotes community building in the USA by providing dancers an opportunity to learn from Kathak stalwarts from India
Her solo performances have received rave reviews in The New York Times, establishing her as a premier artist in the international dance circuit
Television Appearances: As an A-grade artist of Indian National Television, her performances and interviews have been featured on TV channels in the USA, Australia, Japan, Singapore and India.
Awards & Titles: Singaar Mani, Nritya Ratna, Bharatashree Kala Teertha, P. L. Deshpande Youth Award.

Success Stories

Tejaswini Sathe

Success Story Tejaswini Sathe Started learning in the year 1994, under the able guidance of Guru Pta. Maneesha Sathe, who is also …

Shilpa Datar

Success Story Shilpa Datar Started Learning in the Year 1990 Has completed her B.A and M.A in Kathak from Savitribai Phule Pune …

Arundhati Bhide

Success Story Arundhati Bhide Started learning in the year 1988 Worked as one of the First Staff teachers at Maneesha Nrityalaya from …

Manjiri Karulkar

Success Story Manjiri Karulkar Started learning in the year 1975, one of the first students of Maneesha Nrityalaya Nritya Alankar in Kathak …

Poonam Gandhi

Success Story Poonam Gandhi Began her Kathak journey in 1976, one of the first students of Maneesha Nrityalaya Nritya Visharad from Akhil …