Training in New York

Training at The Kathak Legacy Project by Rachna Nivas carries forward the renowned style and pedagogy of the late Pandit Chitresh Das, stewarded and advanced by acclaimed kathak artist and educator Rachna Nivas through rigorous classical study rooted in rhythmic intelligence, oral transmission, and expansive creative freedom.
→ Learn more about our philosophy and lineage

Winter/Spring Classes 2026

Session Dates: January 25 - May 10, 2026
Spring Student Showcase: Sunday, May 10, 2026

Beginning Level Classes for Adults/Teens:*

Kathak Level 1
Wed | 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM
Ripley-Grier Studios, 520 8th Ave (Midtown West) 

Sun | 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Gibney Studios, 53A Chambers (Lower Manhattan)

*Intermediate/Advanced training is by invite only. Students with previous kathak training are assessed on a case by case basis.

Pricing:

Semester Pass - $450 (13 weeks)* 

*Registering for a semester pass gives you access to unlimited classes. Our classes are paid on a tuition concept rather than per class. which includes personalized mentorship, student performances, and direct training opportunities with Rachna Nivas

Not sure if you’re ready to commit? Take your first class for free!

  

 



Questions?
Email us: KathakLegacyProject@rachnanivas.dance

register now

Class Experience and Levels

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Kathak classes at The Kathak Legacy Project are immersive, demanding, and transformative. Our lineage and style is rooted in the Lucknow gharana, influenced by Jaipur gharana, and evolved through what has emerged as the California gharana developed by Pandit Chitresh Das over five decades.

Training in our classes unfolds through intensity and precision—footwork, rhythmic play, recitation, poetry, and singing—awakening a powerful connection between body, rhythm, beauty, and feeling. The practice invites dancers to cultivate presence, confidence, and a deeper relationship to the self through the medium of kathak and its essential dimensions:

tayari - technical readiness, precision, speed, and endurance
layakari - virtuosity of rhythm and timing
khubsurti - beauty and grace
nazakat - delicacy and subtlety
abhinaya - expressive storytelling

Training is offered at the introductory level as well as intermediate and advanced stages. Students with prior kathak training must attend the introductory class as kathak styles vary substantially between schools and guru. It is important to ground oneself in our philosophy and approach before being acclerated to higher levels.

Teaching Artists
Rachna Nivas — Founder & Artistic Director
Neeharika Tummala — Associate Kathak Instructor

Programs and Pathways

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Progams at The Kathak Legacy Project support dancers at multiple stages of study, offering clear pathways for deepening engagement over time:

  • Open Classes
    Ongoing kathak classes open to students of all backgrounds, centered on technique, rhythm, movement vocabulary, and expressive practice.

  • Accelerated Study
    A faster-paced, more demanding track for students pursuing intensified training, expanded vocabulary, and a higher level of focus and commitment.

  • Pre-Professional Training
    Advanced study for dancers preparing to move from studio practice into public performance, including repertoire development and community presentations.

  • Teacher Development
    A structured apprenticeship integrating pedagogical training, teaching practicums, and mentorship, designed to cultivate kathak artists as educators, cultural ambassadors, and community leaders.

  • Professional Training & Apprenticeship
    Ongoing mentorship and advanced practice for professional dancers committed to sustained artistic growth, performance, and lineage-based study.

Thank you to our funders

The Kathak Legacy Project by Rachna Nivas community, educational and training programs are proud to be supported by Harkness Foundation for Dance and, also made possible by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature.