The Chhandam Youth Company was established in 2002 to provide young dancers with access to professional training and performance opportunities in Kathak dance under the direct tutelage of Pandit Chitresh Das. Individual students are recommended by their teachers to audition for the Youth Company after a minimum of two years of study at the Chhandam School.

Youth Company members undergo a rigorous training program in dance technique, the intricate rhythmic system of North Indian classical dance and music, as well as the dance theory, history, philosophy and etiquette associated with the Kathak tradition and Indian culture. A scholarship program is available to provide tuition assistance to lower income Youth Company students/families. The Youth Company performs annually in the Youth Dance Festival at ODC Theater in San Francisco and appeared for the first time in the San Francisco Ethnic Dance Festival in June 2004. Principal Chitresh Das Dance Company member, Charlotte Moraga, is the Youth Company Director.

Youth Company Members:

Completed 6 years
Sonali Toppur

Completed 3 years
Jasmine Balsara
Rachna Gulati
Ritika Pai
Ahana Sahai

Completed 2 years
Aditi Amlani
Monica Chitre
Divya Goel
Ria Parab

Completed 1 year
Sneha Patkar

1st years
Neha Bhansali
Anushka Shah
Athena Nair
Mayuka Sarukkai
Kritika Sharma
Shruti Pai
Leela Amladi
Diti Kohli
Richa Patwardhan
Simran Arora
Aditi Maheshwari
Gauri Bhatnagar