Anushka Nilanjani Ekanayake

🪔 About

Anushka Nilanjani Ekanayake is a distinguished Kathak dancer, choreographer, and media personality with over two decades of experience in Indian classical dance. Originally from Sri Lanka, she now brings the art form to audiences and students in Japan. Anushka's extensive training is deeply rooted in the Guru-Shishya Parampara, having studied under the legendary Pt. Arjun Mishra of the Lucknow Gharana, a direct disciple of the iconic Pt. Birju Maharaj. She is an alumna of the prestigious Bhatkhande Music University in Lucknow, India, where she completed both her Bachelor's and Master's degrees in performing arts (Kathak) under a coveted ICCR scholarship. After returning to Sri Lanka from India in 2008, Anushka founded the Anushka Kathak Dance Academy, where she dedicated herself to nurturing a new generation of dancers. Her significant contributions to the Sri Lankan classical dance scene include producing and performing in “Daskon – Pramila,” Sri Lanka's first-ever Kathak dance drama, which garnered critical acclaim. In addition to her dance career, she served as a visiting lecturer at the University of Visual and Performing Arts and Kelaniya University in Colombo. Anushka also gained recognition as a celebrated TV presenter and news reader, earning the prestigious “Rajya Sammana” state award for her broadcast journalism in Sri Lanka. Currently, Anushka is the founder and artistic director of Nritya Nippon – Anushka Kathak Dance Academy in Japan, where she continues to build a cultural bridge between India and Japan through Kathak. She holds the esteemed title of “Nritya Nipun,” one of the highest accolades in Kathak, and is also a “Visharadh” in vocal music, reflecting her holistic approach to the performing arts. Awards & Honours: Nritya Nipun, Visharadh, Rajya Sammana.