Avani Viswanathan

🪔 About

Avani Viswanathan is a Kathak dancer associated with the Chitresh Das Institute (CDI) in San Francisco, USA. She began her Kathak training in 2012 at Pandit Chitresh Das' original institution, Chhandam, and continued at the Chitresh Das Institute, attending its first session in 2017. Her exposure to Kathak began at an earlier age through her mother, Asavari Ukidve, a senior teacher and Assistant Youth Company Director at CDI, who started dancing at Chhandam in 1999 and studied with Pandit Chitresh Das himself. Avani joined the Chitresh Das Youth Company in 2018. She performed her graduating solo, "Aastha," in August 2025, showcasing a traditional Kathak solo in the style and gharana of Pandit Chitresh Das. Her guru is Charlotte Moraga, the Artistic Director of the Chitresh Das Institute. Viswanathan is a recipient of the Kathak Dance Fellowship for 2026 at the Chitresh Das Institute and also serves as a Teaching Assistant for young children's classes at the institute. She emphasizes the importance of teamwork and self-competition learned through Kathak, and finds it rewarding to inspire younger students. Awards & Honours: Kathak Dance Fellowship (2026).