Raka Bandyo

🪔 About

Raka Bandyo is an Odissi dancer, teacher, and choreographer based in Madison, Wisconsin, USA. Born in the USA to Indian parents, she began her study of Odissi dance at the age of four, driven by her parents' desire for her to connect with her Indian heritage. Her initial training was under Guru Sangeeta Mohapatra Kar, a direct disciple of the esteemed Padma Vibhushan Guru Kelucharan Mohapatra. Bandyo continued her rigorous dance education with Guru Sangeeta Mohapatra Kar through her undergraduate and master's degrees in Mechanical Engineering. In 2003, Raka Bandyo began teaching Odissi dance. She moved to Madison, Wisconsin, in 2005, where she initially worked full-time in Healthcare IT. During this period, she expanded her artistic pursuits by training in Aerial and Modern dance and performing with the Cycropia Aerial Dance Company. Concurrently, she continued to teach Odissi in local yoga studios and performed as a soloist and choreographer, establishing her own ensemble, the Karmic Flower Dance Company. In recent years, Bandyo reduced her IT work hours to dedicate more time to Indian sciences and arts. In 2017, she became a Certificated Ayurvedic Practitioner and embarked on a significant journey to India to re-engage in dance study within the Kelucharan Parampara lineage. She continues her learning and performance in this tradition, collaborating with an international network of dancers and artists. Her ongoing studies also include Jyotish Vedic Astrology, Bansuri Hindustani Flute, Sanskrit, and Vedanta. Bandyo's performances and classes delve into themes of balance, mudras, rhythmic steps, eye movements, expressions, sacred geometry, breath, meditation, and storytelling of mystical and spiritual narratives.