Purvi Bhatt

Nrityalankar Mrs. Purvi Bhatt is a multi-faceted Kathak exponent, performer and teacher. She is the Artistic Director of Lasya Kathak Dance Academy founded in 2010, in Fairfax, VA.

Purvi is a disciple of late Guru Shri Vasantrao Ghadge, Mumbai, India and renowned Guru Pandita Maneesha Sathe, a leading Kathak exponent of India who is also the torchbearer of Nataraj Gopi Krishnaji’s dance style (Banaras Gharana).

Purvi holds Nritya Visharad in Kathak from Akhil Bhartiya Gandharva Mahavidyalaya and Nritya Alankaar from Bharati VidyaPeeth University, Pune. She served as a cultural coordinator on the executive board of Durga Temple from 2004-2009 and as a Chairperson of IDEA (Indian Dance Educators Association) from 2016-18.

Purvi started teaching and performing Kathak in India and has continued her journey as a performer and a teacher in the DC metro area since 1999. She teaches students of a wide age range and conducts several Manch Pravesh for her senior students. Several of her senior students have earned Nritya Visharad (Diploma) and Nritya Alankar (Advance Diploma) and now assist her in teaching. Purvi’s dance school LKDA is affiliated with Bharati VidyaPeeth University Pune, India. She is also a certified Kathak examiner on the panel of Akhil Bhartiya Gandharva Mahavidyalaya and Bharati VidyaPeeth University.

Lasya Kathak Dance Academy was established in 2010 by Purvi Bhatt in Fairfax, VA to train students in Kathak, as well as to promote the beauty of Indian dance and culture through performances. For the past thirteen years, Lasya Dancers have performed to acclaim at various venues including Fairfax county public libraries, schools & community centers, The Kennedy Center, Smithsonian, Wolf Trap, The Capitol Hill, The music center at Strathmore, Indian Embassy, Bangladesh Embassy, Sri Lankan Embassy, The Library of Congress, shows for the Virginia Governor Tim Kaine’s Office on Asian-Pacific American Affairs, Department of Homeland Security, Department of Veterans Affair, National Institute of Health, InterFaith Conference at the National Cathedral and Washington Hebrew Congregation, The Towson University, American University, ito name just a few. LKDA students also had the honor of performing at the Indian Ambassador’s house for Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav (India @ 75) in August 2022 and in November 2019 for Diwali Celebrations. Recently, LKDA worked with Fairfax Symphony Orchestra & FCPS for their educational music program “FSO Link up: The Orchestra Sings!” Lasya Kathak Dance Academy is a member of the International Dance Council CID and is also a proud member of Virginia Dance Coalition.

Dance exams from Foundation to Diploma level are conducted bi-annually for students at LKDA through affiliation with Bharati VidyaPeeth University Pune, India. Additionally, LKDA regularly conducts dance workshops, Lecture-demonstrations, seminars at various educational platforms and community centers.