Indian Classical Dancer to Perform Oct. 21

Megha Rao, an accomplished and dedicated artist of Bharatanatyam, a celebrated Indian classical dance form, will perform at University of the Ozarks on Tuesday, Oct. 21, as part of the University's Walton Arts & Ideas Series.

The event begins at 7 p.m. in the Seay Theatre, located in the Walton Fine Arts Center. There is no cost for admission and the public is invited.

Rao has more than two decades of experience both as a performer and as a teacher. She is a graded Doordarshan artist and was selected for inclusion on the Arkansas Arts On Tour (AOT) and Arts In Education (AIE) Rosters.

She has extended her creative journey in choreography combining many Indian dance forms and she was recently awarded a grant by Artists 360, a program of Mid-America Arts Alliance, to support her Dance production - 'Baala - tale of Kanha.'

Over the past decade, Rao has captivated the hearts of audiences across the Central U.S at multiple venues.

As artistic director, she currently runs the Dhirana Academy of Classical Dance, based in Bentonville, Ark., training more than 100 students in the U.S. every year in Bharatanatyam.

Rao also works with school districts and other organizations to bring Bharatanatyam to the community. Her goal is to bridge the gap between society and the classical art form by inspiring, educating and guiding budding talent. She often collaborates with like-minded artists across different genres of music and performing arts, expanding the vocabulary while staying true to the art form.

Rao has been appointed as an Ambassador of Good Will by Arkansas Governor Asa Hutchinson, representing the spirit of an Arkansas traveler. She has been approved as a subject of biographical record in the esteemed Marquis Who's Who in America.

Topics: WAIS