Harini Nilakantan

🪔 About

Harini Nilakantan is a Chicago-based professional dancer, movement artist, and choreographer originally from Chennai, India. She began her Bharatanatyam journey at the age of four in Bangalore, training under Smt. Sujatha Raghavendra. She later continued her studies with Smt. Usha Rahul in Pune, under whom she completed her Arangetram (professional debut) in 2008 at the age of nine. Her classical training further extended under the guidance of Smt. Roja Kannan at Bharathanatyalaya in Chennai, and she also had the privilege of learning from the late Guru Shri Adyar K. Lakshman. Nilakantan's artistic career spans both classical and contemporary stages. She is particularly recognized for her innovative fusion of Bharatanatyam with street dance forms such as Waacking, Hip-hop, and Chicago Footwork. She relocated to Indianapolis in 2013 and is now a prominent figure in the Chicago dance scene. Harini holds a Masters in Museum Studies, which informs her approach to navigating art institutions and creating spaces for South Asian artists. She is the Program Head of Dance at the Kalapriya Center for the Indian Performing Arts and the founder/director of the Chicago-based dance collective, PatchWerk. She also served as the Lead Choreographer for Movement Of Desis' competitive branch and co-directed the collective. Nilakantan is also a content creator, using digital platforms to showcase her fusion dance and promote South Indian culture globally. Awards & Honours: Featured Artist, Headliner (2023), Headliner (2024), Champion, Chicago City Qualifiers (2025), Groovy x Reveal Showcase Winner, Lotus Fellow (2026).