About
Biography
Dr. Suparna Venkatesh is a classical dancer, choreographer, and educator based in Bengaluru, trained in both Bharatanatyam and Kathak. A recipient of the Karnataka Kalashree Award, she is recognized for her contributions to Indian classical dance through performance, teaching, and choreography. Her training includes Kathak under Guru Dr. Maya Rao and Smt. Chithra Venugopal, along with Bharatanatyam under Smt. Jayalakshmi Alwa, Guru Shri Ramakrishna Alwa, and Guru Smt. Narmada.
She is the co-founder and Dance Director of Sai Arts International, an institution established in 1996 that focuses on structured training and performance in classical dance. Through this platform, she has mentored numerous students and developed productions such as Umang and Prapanna, contributing to the presentation of classical dance in both traditional and contemporary formats.
Dr. Venkatesh is also noted for her work in inclusive dance education, particularly training visually challenged students who have gone on to perform internationally. In addition to her artistic work, she contributes academically as a member of the Karnataka Secondary Education Board’s textbook committee for Kathak, reflecting her engagement with both practice and pedagogy in Indian classical dance.