Shalaka Kulkarni

🪔 About

Shalaka Kulkarni is an Asian-American interdisciplinary dance artist, actor, filmmaker, and choreographer based in Chicago. She is trained in two Indian Classical dance forms: Bharatanatyam (Tanjore style), which she began learning as a child in India and continued under Pranita Nayar in the U.S., and Kathak, under the tutelage of international artist Sandhya Desai. Kulkarni holds a Master of Fine Arts in Interdisciplinary Arts and Media from Columbia College Chicago, where she also studied modern and contemporary dance forms with Nana Shineflug. Her artistic practice bridges ancient traditions with contemporary themes, focusing on female identity, societal norms, gender fluidity, and empowering marginalized voices. As a dancer and choreographer, she explores mythology and mysticism, centering feminine power in her work. Kulkarni has toured and performed her original work and collaborations across India, the U.S., and Europe, and has worked with acclaimed Indian artists such as Leela Samson, Birju Maharaj, and Malavika Sarukkai. In Chicago, she has presented her choreography at various venues and festivals, including the Athenaeum Theatre, Chicago Cultural Center, Museum of Contemporary Art, and Dance Chicago Festival. She was a principal dancer and choreographer with Mandala South Asian Performing Arts and is currently a teaching artist for Mandala Arts. Kulkarni is also an artist fellow with High Concept Labs. Her recent projects include the short film "What We Carry" (supported by 3Arts Foundation) and the dance-based solo play "Nyra's Dreams," which premiered in Chicago in 2023. She maintains an active teaching practice in Indian Classical dance, offering online classes in Bharatanatyam. Awards & Honours: Make a Wave Award (2024).