FALL REGISTRATION Thornhill Studio: LABOUR DAY WEEKEND! SEPT. 1,2,3rd - CALL or COME FOR AN INTERVIEW - Our address : 11 Glen Cameron Road, Unit #1,Thornhill, ON  L3T 4N3  
​(two traffic lights north of  Avenue, east of Yonge Street) 
FALL REGISTRATION: Brampton Studio: September 16th, Hot Yoga & Wellness
Brampton. 2 Automatic Road, Unit # 120, Brampton, ON  L6S 5P2 
Thinking of dance lessons for your child or for yourself?  You can arrange to come in for an interview any time in the school year.  We teach professional dance to students from 5 years old and up.  Actual registration is in September and October but there are lots of student events you can attend and participate in during the year. We teach beginner, graduate and post-graduate classes in Bharatanatyam and Odissi in studios in Thornhill and Brampton. 
In addition to our curriculum classes from grades 1 to 7,  Our activities include: Dance Performances for Cultural and Community Events, Dance Intensives in Bharatanatyam and Odissi given by Menaka Thakkar and Artists in Residence, Training for Arangetram performance. In Studio Visiting Dancers Talks and Performances plus Live Streaming performances and dance classes from Mumbai by esteemed dancers. Two locations to serve you in Thornhill and Brampton.
Call Swati Tripathi at (905) 763 - 6083 Ext:30 for registration details or to come in for an interview.
Watch a documentary about the beginnings of Nrtyakala   https://vimeo.com/122207070

New For 2018-2019 -On-line Teaching of Bharatanatyam and Odissi dance
​for senior dancers! 
REGISTRATION Thornhill Studio: LABOUR DAY WEEKEND! SEPT. 1,2,3rd - CALL or COME
FOR AN INTERVIEW - Our address : 11 Glen Cameron Road, Unit #1Thornhill, ON  L3T 4N3  
​(two traffic lights north of  Avenue, east of Yonge Street) 
FALL REGISTRATION: Brampton Studio: September 16th, Hot Yoga & Wellness Brampton. 2 Automatic Road, Unit # 120, Brampton, ON  L6S 5P2 from India!

OUR FACULTY - Dr. Menaka Thakkar - Artistic Director & Principal - Teacher of Bharatanatyam and Odissi to Senior Students 
"Menaka Thakkar is a major figure in the Canadian dance landscape. She has trained with some of the best in India and, for years, has made their teachings accessible to the mainstream in Canada. Her work has truly enriched our collective culture." — Robert Sirman, Canada Council for the Arts Director and CEO

"Dr. Thakkar has introduced people from diverse cultural backgrounds to the majesty of Indian dance; she also has explored how different dance forms and their ways of moving can intermingle and complement one another. We salute her for everything she has accomplished on behalf of dance and dance education in Canada." —Norma Sue fisher-Stitt Chair, Department of Dance York University

"Menaka is a born teacher. She is also a living ambassador for East Indian culture with all of its colour, diversity and long-standing tradition. She has made a powerful impact on my life and my appreciation for another culture. What a wonderful contribution she has made to the Canadian mosaic!" —Dennis F. Tupman Past District Principal for the Performing Arts Vancouver School School Board.
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Neena Jayarajan, Assistant Artistic Director and Bharatanatyam Teacher of Senior Students, Rehearsal Director, Rehearsal Director
Neena is a Bharatanatyam dancer who has trained under the guidance of Dr. Menaka Thakkar for over 27 years. Neena has earned a Masters Degree in Dance from York University. She is a lead dancer with Menaka Thakkar Dance Company in Bharatanatyam, Odissi and modern Indian dance. Neena has toured with the company to various cities across the United States. Canada and India. 
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Chrishantini Ravishankar, Head of Brampton School - Bharatanatyam Teacher
Chrishantini heads the Brampton Nrtyakala branch and also teaches at the Thornhill school. Chrishanthini was one of the earliest students of Nrtyakala and travelled as a young girl with Menaka and other students to perform in India and Canada. She later danced for Menaka Thakkar Dance Company. Her daughters Raveena and Meghana have followed in their mother’s footsteps and are currently senior students of the school.
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Teachers for the inaugural year are: Odissi dancer Sujata Mohapatra from Bubaneshwar, India and
​Deepak Mazumdar from Mumbai, India
Classes start September 23, 2018. Thornhill Studio
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Menaka Thakkar Artistic Director of Nrtyakala Indian Dance School announces a new initiative of international on-line teaching of Bharatanatyam and Odissi supported by live streaming and two-way video conferencing technology. The classes will be held by Master Dancers from India in the school as an added benefit to students seeking advanced training.  The regular school curriculum from grades 1 to 7 and the3 year professional training component will continue with on-site training.
More information: Swati Tripathi – School Administrator;Tel.905-764-3646 ext.30;
email:school@menakathakkardance.org; website: www.nrtyakala.org; 

Sujata Mohapatra Every year many superlative dancers come to New York. If I had to choose one to single out this year, it would be Ms. Mohapatra, the illustrious Odissi dancer who opened the Drive East season at Dixon Place in August. I have seen Ms. Mohapatra dance in India and in New York, but too seldom. The layers of communicative beauty in her dancing are innumerable. Click Ms. Mohapatra for full story.

Deepak Mazumdar As a true "guru" who firmly believes in the "guru-shishya parampara" Deepak very actively encourages his students to perform on the stage and excel at their art. Till date Deepak has trained and presented more than 25 young people in "Arangetram".
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OUR FACULTY
Kiruthika Ratnasingam - Teacher of Bharatanatyam to junior students. began her initial Bharathanaytam training under the guidance of Smt. Rajini Kulendran at the age of eight, with whom she completed her Arangetram in 2004. In 2008, she undertook further training under the tutelage of Dr. Menaka Thakkar, an internationally renowned and multi-honoured artist. Kiruthika subsequently became an active company dancer in Menaka Thakkar Dance Company, her Bharathanaytam training has been complimented
by workshops in Kalaripayattu, Odissi and intensive body conditioning. Menaka Thakkar Dance Company features an extensive repertoire of performances and Kiruthika has performed and toured in many of these including, Shapes & Rhythms, In the Future Soil, Agni Rath, Ganesha Narthanam,Parashakti, Sitayana, Homecoming, Love’s Folly, Chitra, Prince Rama, Wise Monkey and Foolish Crocodile.

Ayushi Sharma, Odissi Teacher
Ayushi Sharma started learning Odissi in 1999 at Gandharva Mahavidyalaya, New Delhi under the guidance of Pyali De and Madhavi Mudgal. After coming to Canada, she joined Menaka Thakkar Dance Company and continued training at Nrtyakala under the tutelage of Menaka Thakkar and Sujata Mohapatra.

NRTYAKALA - CLASSICAL INDIAN DANCE IS LOOKING FOR SPONSORS AND FUNDERS FOR OUR LIVE STREAMING UNDERTAKING! WE ARE A NOT-FOR-PROFIT ORGANIZATION WITH CHARITABLE STATUS WITH THE ABILITY TO GIVE TAX RECEIPTS.
wE ARE LOOKING FOR SPONSORS WHO CAN APPRECIATE THE BENEFITS THAT LIVE STREAMING OFFERS BY PROVIDING INFINITE DISSEMINATION OF INDIAN CULTURE THROUGH DANCE TO ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD AT AN AFFORDABLE PRICE. WE HAVE MADE GREAT PROGRESS IN THE PAST THREE YEARS AND ARE NOW OFFERING ALL OF OUR LIVE EVENTS AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC THROUGH LIVE STREAMING. BUT WE NEED SUPPORT GETTING THE WORD OUT THROUGH  YOUR SPONSORSHIP OR DONATION. IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN KNOWING MORE PLEASE CONTACT: KAREN DEMPSTER at admin@menakathakkardance.org
IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A DONATION RIGHT NOW WE ARE LISTED ON CANADA HELPS.

Nrtyakala gives thanks to its funders: