12+
Students Taught
1
Followers
❖ Guru Parampara ❖
View Full Parampara TreeAbout
Viji Rao is an internationally acclaimed Bharatanatyam dance artist, choreographer, educator, and curator with over three decades of experience. Based in Philadelphia since 2002, she is dedicated to preserving, promoting, and evolving the classical South Indian dance form of Bharatanatyam in the West. Her performances have been hailed as a "technical tour…
Journey Timeline
Early 1970s
Began Bharatanatyam training — At age five with her father, Shiva Rao.
1990s
Began teaching dance — Has over three decades of experience as a teacher.
2002
Moved to Philadelphia — Based in Philadelphia since 2002.
2002/2003
Founded Three Aksha — Founded and serves as artistic director of Three Aksha.
2008
Artist-in-residence at Girard College — Has served since 2008.
2009
Acted in a film — Film produced in India.
2011
Received Leeway Transformation Award
2021
Received Best Actress Award — For her performance in "Colors of Truth" and another film.
2022
Inducted into Marquis Who's Who Biographical Registry
2022
Began curating All-Indian Dance Festival at Carnegie Hall — Has been curating since 2022.
Photo Gallery
Photos will appear here.
Video Library
Performance videos will appear here.
Signature Performances
Signature repertoire pieces will be showcased here.
Performance Map
A world map of performances will appear here as tours are recorded.
Awards & Honors
- Transformation Award — City of Philadelphia
- Master Artist Award — Pennsylvania Council on the Arts
- Master Teacher — New Jersey State Council on the Arts
- Best Dancer of the Year — India
- Best Dancer of the Year — Bahrain
- 2021 · Best Actress Award — Malaikandan International Film Festival and Gona award
- 2011 · Leeway Transformation Award — Leeway Foundation
- 2016 · Art and Change Grant — Leeway Foundation
- 2008 · Art and Change Grant — Leeway Foundation
Media Coverage
- Three Aksha and the Modern Journey of Bharatanatyam
thINKingDANCE
Schools & Affiliations
Testimonials
Student & peer testimonials will appear here.
Upcoming Workshops
No workshops scheduled yet.
Compiled from public sources and/or self-reported by the artist — not independently verified by NatyaNetwork. Is this you? Claim this profile to manage or correct it. See our Terms.