Alpana Kagal

🪔 About

Alpana Kagal Jacob is a distinguished Bharatanatyam dancer, teacher, guru, and choreographer based in Frisco, Texas, USA. She began her Bharatanatyam training at the age of ten under Smt. Revathi Satyu, and later furthered her studies with several eminent gurus including Sri Mahalingam Pillai, Sri U.S. Krishna Rao, Smt. Chandrabhaga Devi, Smt. Padmini Ravi, Smt. Priyadarsini Govind, Smt. Maya Rao, and Smt. Radhika Ganesh. Kagal Jacob performed her Arangetram, or solo debut recital, in 1987 under the guidance of Smt. Revathi Satyu. She commenced her teaching career in the same year, at the age of 20. Her performance career includes numerous dance productions, and in 1994, she was presented by her Guru in Bangalore and Mumbai, India. In 1995, she toured India and was featured as a lead dancer with the folk-dance group "Sundara Mana MadhiBurli" (also referred to as "Sundara Manamadhe Bharali"). Alpana Kagal Jacob has served as a resident artist and performer with Big Thought of North Texas and has been recognized in the Dallas Guide as a top children's performer. She has also collaborated with the Dallas Theater Center's summer program, integrating dance and theater. A founding member of the local performance arts group Indique, she is also an active choreographer, conducting master classes and creating choreography for various institutions including Texas Woman's University, The University of North Texas, The University of Dallas, Brookhaven College, and Booker T. Washington High School for the Performing and Visual Arts. She currently teaches Bharatanatyam at the Arathi School of Dance in West Frisco, TX. In recognition of her contributions to dance education, Alpana Kagal Jacob received the Larry White Award for Excellence in Dance Education from the Dance Council of North Texas in October 2017. Awards & Honours: Larry White Award for Excellence in Dance Education (2017).