Biography
About Me
A Celebrated Bharatanatyam Artist, Choreographer, Teacher and Curator.
"Dance expresses where words fall short."
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Years of Art
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Performances
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Awards Recieved
About
Viji Rao, an internationally acclaimed Bharatanatyam dance artist, choreographer, educator, and curator, with over three decades of experience. Based in Philadelphia, Viji Rao has earned a reputation for her innovative choreographies and dedication to preserving, promoting, and evolving the classical South Indian dance form of Bharatanatyam in the West.
Artistic Mastery
Viji Rao's Bharatanatyam performances have been hailed as a "technical tour de force" by the Philadelphia Inquirer. Her unique ability to blend traditional techniques with contemporary themes has established her as a "theatrical visionary" in the world of Indian classical dance. With a foundation in the Kalakshetra style of Bharatanatyam, Rao's artistry is characterized by its focus on bodily expression and storytelling.
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teachings
As an educator, viji rao has trained many young minds alike in United States, United Kingdom, Canada and India for over three decades. Viji Rao has also made significant contributions to the propagation of Bharatanatyam and Indian culture in the United States. She has taught at prestigious institutions including Temple University, Bryn Mawr College, Drexel University, and Penn State University, where she played a pivotal role in incorporating Bharatanatyam into the undergraduate theatre studies program. Her commitment to cultural education extends to her role as artist-in-residence at Girard College since 2008.
Artistic Direction
Viji Rao is the founder and artistic director of Three Aksha, a dance company and educational institution based in Philadelphia. Through Three Aksha, she continues to create, produce, and perform innovative choreographies that bridge traditional and contemporary dance forms.
International Recognition
With performances across the United States, Canada, Europe, the UK, Indonesia, UAE, Bahrain, Doha, Maldives, and India, Viji Rao has garnered international acclaim for her artistry. Her work has been supported by prestigious organizations including the National Endowment for the Arts, PCF, PA Sharp, Pennsylvania Council on the Arts, and the Leeway Foundation, among many others.
Curator
Viji Rao has been curating The All-Indian Dance Festival at Carnegie Hall, NY since the 2022. First ever festival on world stage which brings both Classical and Folk forms of India. A festival that should top the bucket list of every Indian Classical dance and music lovers in USA, it’s a celebration of arts, history and heritage by youth artists. Festival highlights dance forms like Bharatanatyam, Kuchipudi, Mohiniattam, Kathak, Odissi, Manipuri, Garba, Raas, Kavadi, Koravanji, Kolata, Bhangra, Lavani, Mangalagaur, Bhondal, contemporary arts, collaboration between Indian and Japanese music, Chande melam to mention a few. Festival celebrated its 3rd successful festivities. Every single year the festival has attracted full house crowd and it’s been a sold out show all three years. Its not an easy task to sell out over 3000 plus audience space with just Indian Classical and Folk arts. Over 450 plus artists take part in the festivities each year.
Actress
Viji Rao has acted in one Tamil movie Meendrum Meendrum Nee directed by Haridas, a well-known director in Tamil film industry. Though a short part Viji enjoys her bit of big screen moment. Viji has also had the opportunity working with Rabinder Parasher’s Amazon Short Movie in USA “Colors of Truth” a work very close to her heart; a fight for women's rights for which she grabbed best acress award from Malaikandan Internation Film Festival and Gona award. She is preparing for her next full length Hollywood movie in later part of 2025 in USA.
Instagram: www.instagram.com/three_aksha
Facebook: www.facebook.com/viji.rao
Youtube: www.youtube.com/threeaksha
Email: threeaksha@gmail.com
Instagram: www.instagram.com/three_aksha
Facebook: www.facebook.com/viji.rao
Youtube: www.youtube.com/threeaksha
Email: threeaksha@gmail.com
