Prajakta Apte Kulkarni

🪔 About

Prajakta Apte Kulkarni is an accomplished Kathak dancer, choreographer, and educator based in the United States. Her journey in Indian classical dance began with formal training in Bharatanatyam during her childhood. She later pursued Kathak, undergoing nearly 12 years of rigorous training under the guidance of Ms. Vallerie Apte, closely supervised by Guru Pt. Maneesha Satheji, and attained the revered Visharad status. Her artistic development in Kathak was further enriched through mentorship from Prashant Shahji, an eminent figure in the dance realm, and she has also learned from Vidushi Shama Bhateji. As a performer, Prajakta Apte Kulkarni has graced significant stages, including a performance at Carnegie Hall in July 2022 and participation in the New York Kathak Festival in 2023. She is also a member of the Prashant Shah & Dancers professional dance group. She is recognized as a choreographer and Kathak dancer, also performing folk, Bollywood, and Bharatanatyam dance forms. Beyond performing, Prajakta is a dedicated educator and institution head. In 2019, she founded Krishnapriya Rasrang Performing Arts (KRPA), a platform devoted to promoting spiritual dance and providing opportunities for both adults and students to learn and perform Kathak. KRPA aims to preserve artistic traditions while integrating contemporary cultural nuances. She also runs Prajakta's School of Kathak in Ashburn, Virginia, which began offering beginner classes in August 2023, following the guidelines set by her guru Pandita Maneesha Sathe.