Aparna's Dance Academy

"I began learning Kathak with Mrs. Aparna when I was 6 years old, and to say that this experience has been anything less than life changing would be an understatement. For the majority of my adolescent years, I’ve been going to Mrs. Aparna's classes every week. After years of learning new taals, building life-long friendships, and developing a special relationship with Mrs. Aparna, my love and passion for dance has only flourished. Mrs. Aparna has instilled this passion in me through watching her unique dance skills, shaped by decades of mastery in the art. And every week she dedicates her time towards passing on this skill to us through her teachings. When we perform at our annual Kathak Utsavs, the audience can not only see, but also feel the hours and months of dedication that is students, and Mrs. Aparna, put towards this performance. We always aspire to make it a memorable night for everyone: our parents, guests, friends, family, and peers. I remember when I first entered her studio to learn Kathak, I could feel that this would be my second-home for many years ahead. Every week I felt the desire to become a beautiful dancer like Mrs. Aparna, and would devote several hours of practice per week to grow my dancing skills. My time here has been nothing short of amazing and full of joy. Mrs. Aparna's generosity and caring nature has made us feel welcomed into the studio, ready to learn and flourish into skilled dancers like her. She always sees the potential in each of her students, and never fails to push us towards achieving that potential. In this dance studio, I not only have developed kathak skills, but also valuable life-long skills that will help me in the future. I've learned the importance of dedication, perseverance, kindness, and hard-work through my time here, and feel that I am very prepared for my future with these skills. I am beyond appreciative and enthusiastic for the opportunity I’ve had to learn under her as a student, and I truly look forward to continuing my journey with her. Aparna's Dance Academy has changed my life and has shaped me into the person I am today."

"I started learning Kathak from Ms. Aparna when I was around 4 years old and after more than a decade, I can say that it not only helped me grow as a dancer but a person. Ms. Aparna is dedicated, not just to her craft, which she is a master, but to each and every one of her students that takes a class with her. She is so invested in each of her students success and is accommodating to ensure everyone can learn and be apart of the class. The work ethic, community, and skills I have developed by being her student has helped in all other parts of my life. I have not only developed a love of Kathak dance but a lifelong respect and education about the art that Mrs. Aparna hones deeply in every one of us. If you’re looking for a dedicated, passionate teacher for dance, I would enthusiastically recommend Ms. Aparna. She has developed my now lifelong love for Kathak and instilled in me skills that I will take with me for the rest of my life.."

"I have been dancing under Aparna Auntie for almost 13 years now and I can confidently say that it has truly been a life changing experience. Since I was young I have always had a passion for dancing, so I joined Kathak classes, but Auntie made It her mission to not only shape me into a graceful and expressive dancer, but also helped me grow as a person. Aparna Auntie is extremely passionate about this art form, but even more passionate about teaching it to her students. She challenges you to be the best you can be and gives you tough love when you need it. From experience, some teachers sugarcoat criticism, but Auntie is straight forward with what is wrong and what needs to be worked on, which is crucial for one to grow as a dancer. As a Visharad student, her constructive criticism helped me blossom into a graceful dancer and it makes me work harder to be better everyday. From the very first day of class, Auntie instilled discipline, organization, respect, and time management in all her students. She teaches everyone that without the basic skills of discipline then there is no room growth, which is the biggest lesson I learned from attending this studio. As I grew older, I realized that this is a lifelong skill, which applied to multiple aspects of my life: social, personal, and academic. Dance has become an integral part of my life, and that credit goes to Aparna Auntie for being my biggest supporter and mentor. As I am approaching my last semester with her as a Visharad student, I know that I will make an effort to come back and learn from her as Visharard is just the surface beginning of Kathak. Overall, Aparna’s Dance Academy is a great place to learn Kathak and I will tell any student passionate in dance to go to Auntie as she really sees the potential and value in all her students. Learning from her will be one of the biggest blessings I have received, and I would love to share that gift with everyone."

"I started learning Kathak with Mrs. Aparna 13 years ago and it has truly been a life-changing experience. For over a decade, I’ve been going to class every week, learning new things, and developing a passion for dance in general. Kathak is more than a job for Mrs. Aparna, it’s a passion. And she instills that same idea into us. When we perform at our Utsavs, you can see the hard work and love for dance that every single one of her students has - and you can feel it as a dancer. I remember when I first started Kathak, wearing only one string of ghungroos and barely remembering any of the steps. But now, I’ve grown into a graceful dancer, learning the complexities and stories behind the pieces we perform, and I can’t imagine not having class every week in the future. Mrs. Aparna is truly a gifted Kathak teacher and dancer. Her kindness and confidence in us let us grow into skilled dancers ourselves. She knows that we can be successful and pushes us to achieve our full potential, no matter what. However, aside from teaching us Kathak, Mrs. Aparna has helped us foster important life skills as well, shaping well-rounded individuals. We constantly work on teamwork, discipline, and responsibility. For one, Mrs. Aparna’s teaching style and motivating nature have made me independent and perseverant. I am so grateful for the opportunity I’ve had to be her student and I truly look forward to continuing my journey with her. This Dance Academy has changed my life and helped me grow into the person I am today."

"I have been Ms. Aparna's student for many years now and it is no doubt that I have learned so much from her teaching. I started learning Kathak from Ms. Aparna when I was around 4 years old and after 14 years, I can truly say that she has allowed me to blossom as not only a dancer, but as a person. She is extremely passionate about Kathak and this is clear to see during class. She is invested in our success like no other. Not only is she an incredible dancer, her years of experience have made her a brilliant teacher. It has been a pleasure to learn from her. She is constantly challenging us to be better dancers. She never settles makes sure that we are given the training and motivation to realize our full potential. I would've never expected Kathak to be such a large part of my life, but Aparna's Dance Academy has allowed me to truly develop a love for this dance. If you are looking for a teacher that is willing to go the extra mile to ensure that you have a full and enjoyable Kathak education, Ms. Aparna is who I would recommend with no reservations. She is a professional has honed her craft like no other."