The Chitresh Das Dance Company (CDDC) is comprised of dancers whose abilities exemplify Chitresh Das’ emphasis on the technical, graceful and dramatic aspects of Kathak dance. Principal Company members have become established artists in their own right, performing internationally to great acclaim. With a repertoire ranging from the exploration of the rhythms of North and South India (Pancha Jati), stories and moving images of the lavish courts of India (Darbar) to the pure dance energy of Tarana, the critically acclaimed Chitresh Das Dance Company continues to captivate audiences on their international tours. Through the choreographic vision of Chitresh Das comes work that is evocative and powerful, bringing both the richness of ancient India and a fiery, contemporary sensibility.
Charlotte Moraga, Principal Company Member
Charlotte Moraga, senior disciple of Pandit Chitresh Das, is originally from Florida, and began dancing at the age of nine. Formerly a professional Jazz dancer, she finds Kathak the most exhilirating and challenging dance form she has encountered. She began her training with Pandit Das at SFSU in 1992. She has since performed internationally to critical acclaim at the Denpasar International Bali Arts Festival, Ali Akbar Khan's 80th Birthday Gala, American Dance Festival, International Kathak Festival in Chicago and eight tours to India.
Charlotte is a senior instructor at Chhandam and has been instrumental in the development of CDDC's arts education programs in the San Francisco Bay Area. She has given many lecture-demonstrations and workshops at museums, universities and schools throughout the US and India. Charlotte is currently the director of the Chhandam Youth Company. She is a recipient of the first Shenson Performing Arts Fellowship and received a residency in San Francisco at CounterPulse, 'Performing Diaspora Program'. She received a CA$H grant to help assist her in creating new work in the Kathak Tradition. Click here to see videos of Charlotte
Seibi Lee
Seibi Lee discovered the world of Kathak when she took her first class with renowned Kathak master Pandit Chitresh Das in Toronto, Canada in 1991. She continued her studies in Toronto with his disciple, Joanna De Souza and then moved to California in 1998 to study directly under Panditji. Seibi became a member of CDDC in 2000 and has since toured with CDDC throughout the United States and India. She is also a performer with CDDC’s Arts Education and community performances programs, bringing awareness of the rich history, philosophy and sophisticated rhythmical mathematics that are an integral part of the brilliance and beauty of Kathak. Seibi is a dynamic teacher of the Kathak tradition and has taught at Pandit Das’s Chhandam School for nearly ten years. She is now the director and head teacher of the Berkeley Branch of Chhandam.
Farah Yasmeen Shaikh
Farah Yasmeen Shaikh has been trained by Pandit Chitresh Das since 1996. Her performance experience includes seven tours with CDDC throughout India, numerous lecture demonstrations, home season presentations, and national and international touring. A senior instructor at Chhandam, Farah oversees the Mountain View branch of Pandit Das’ institution. In 2006, Farah was awarded a CA$H Grant from Dancers’ Group and Theatre Bay Area, as well as the Apprenticeship Grant from the Alliance for California Traditional Arts . In 2007, Farah performed her first traditional Kathak solo in San Francisco, and since has performed solo in Mumbai, India and throughout the U.S. in Boston, Los Angeles, New York City and Washington DC. In May of 2009, Farah was awarded the Shenson Performing Arts Fellowship from the San Francisco Foundation, based on Farah’s artistic merit and her potential for future excellence and impact in the field of Kathak dance.
Click here to view videos of Farah
Joanna Meinl
Joanna Meinl began studying the enthralling art of Kathak with Pandit Chitresh Das over nine years ago at San Francisco State University, where she also studied Modern dance performance and choreography and earned a B.A. in Dance Ethnology. She has been a performing member of the CDDC for seven years and has toured both nationally and internationally, including two tours to India. She is also an active participant in community arts education. She teaches Kathak as well as ballet, modern and creative movement for youth programs and schools throughout the Bay Area. In addition, Joanna teaches and performs Ballroom, Latin and Swing dance.
Rachna Nivas
Rachna Nivas has been studying Kathak with Pandit Chitresh Das since 1998. In addition to being a solo artist in her own right, she has performed in several award-winning company productions and has toured throughout the U.S. and India. Rachna is also known for her exhilarating demonstrations of her Guruji's innovation of Kathak Yoga, pioneering the use of harmonium while singing and dancing at the same time. She is actively involved in arts eduation programs at local schools and lecture demonstrations at universities. She is currently a senior instructor and director of both the San Francisco and Union City branches of the Chhandam School of Kathak. On the arts administration side, she currently manages the organization's website and is serving as the School Administrative and Outreach Coordinator.
Anjali Nath
Anjali Nath is a disciple of Kathak maestro, Pandit Chitresh Das and a member of the Chitresh Das Dance Company (CDDC). Anjali was introduced to the dynamic art of Kathak by Gretchen Hayden, senior disciple of Pandit Das, in 1997. Since moving to the Bay Area and joining CDDC in 2003, Anjali has performed in numerous school and community arts education programs, several award-winning company productions and has toured with the company both nationally and in India. Most recently, Anjali has performed in the critically acclaimed "Shabd", featuring Pt. Das' innovative technique of Kathak Yoga. As a senior instructor and head of the San Jose branch of Chhandam, Anjali strives to highlight the relevance, universality, and overall benefits of the multi-faceted art of Kathak for people all ages and cultures.
Click here to view video of Anjali
Rina Mehta
Rina has been training with Pt. Das since 1999 and performing with the Chitresh Das Dance Company since 2006 in home season presentations as well national and international tours. Most recently Rina performed in the critically acclaimed "Shabd", a work-in-progress featuring Pt. Das' innovative technique of Kathak Yoga. This year Rina was awarded the Apprenticeship Grant from the Alliance of California Traditional Arts. Rina is Director of Chhandam, Southern California.
Antara Bhardwaj, Apprentice Company Member
Antara began studying Kathak with Pandit Chitresh Das at the age of nine. She has performed with the Chitresh Das Dance Company at the 2006 International Kathak Festival – Kathak at the Crossroads, amongst other performances. She is a teacher for the Chhandam School of Kathak dance and is beginning her career as a solo Kathak artist.
Labonee Mohanta, Apprentice Company Member
Labonee began studying Kathak with Pandit Chitresh Das at the age of 8. She has recently begun performing with the Chitresh Das Dance Company and is beginning her career as a solo Kathak artist. She currently assists classes at the Fremont branch of the Chhandam School of Kathak.
Remembering Jaiwanti Das Pamnani, Principal Company Member
On February 26, 2007 we lost our beloved Jaiwanti, disciple of Pandit Chitresh Das, principal dancer of the Chitresh Das Dance Company, celebrated Kathak soloist and senior instructor at the Chhandam School of Kathak. She fought cancer for nearly three years with grace, dignity, and tremendous power. She continued to dance almost up until the end and is now, as her Guruji says, "dancing the cosmic dance". Click here to read Jaiwanti's obituary.
