As an accomplished and dedicated artist of Bharatanatyam, a celebrated
Indian classical dance form, Megha has over two decades of experience
both as a performer and as a teacher. She is a Graded Doordarshan Artist
and currently serving as the Board of Directors of Downtown Bentonville
Inc. Over the past decade, Megha has captivated the hearts of audiences
across the Central U.S at multiple venues.
She has extended her creative journey in choreography combining many
Indian dance forms. Uniquely conceptualized and choreographed
productions like NAVARASA MARGAM, THE EXILED KING, ARDHANAREE and
BAALA-TALE OF KANHA. In recognition of her contribution to the
performing arts in Northwest Arkansas, she was recently awarded a grant
by Artists 360, a program of Mid-America Arts Alliance, to support her
Dance production – ‘Baala – tale of Kanha’
She has performed 1000+ dance performances across India and the US,
some of them nationally significant events such as Nrityotsav-Mumbai,
West Bengal Tourism Festival Calcutta, Pallavothsav Mysore, Navaraspur
Utsav Bijapur, Hampi Utsav, India Fest – Little Rock, 21st TANA Conference –
St louis, NAVIKA- Cincinnati, OH. 12th & 14th American Natya Festival, St
Louis. Sammilana 2023, Houston. Margazhi Nrityothsava 2023 in Chennai,
India.
As Artistic Director she currently runs the ‘Dhirana Academy of Classical
Dance’ based in Bentonville Arkansas, training over a hundred students in
the US every year in Bharatanatyam. Over the past five years, she has
organized and produced ‘Pradarshana’ an annual Fall student showcase, to
encourage young talents. She also works with school districts and other
organizations to bring Bharatanatyam to the community. Her goal is to
Bridge the gap between society and the classical art form by inspiring,
educating and guiding budding talent.
She often collaborates with like-minded artists across different genres of
music and performing arts, expanding the vocabulary while staying true to
the art form. She has been appointed as an Ambassador of Good Will by
Arkansas Governor Asa Hutchinson, representing the spirit of an Arkansas
traveler. She has been approved as a subject of biographical record in the
esteemed Marquis Who’s Who in America.

Core Accomplishments

• Has been appointed as an Ambassador of Good Will by Arkansas
  Governor Asa Hutchinson, representing the spirit of an Arkansas
  traveler.
• Recepient of grant from Artists 360, a program of Mid-America Arts
  Alliance, with generous support from the Walton Family
  Foundation.
• Graded Doordarshan Artist – Doordarshan is an Indian national
  television channel.
• Has extended her creative journey in choreography combining
  many Indian dance forms. Uniquely conceptualized and
  choreographed productions like NAVARASA MARGAM, THE EXILED
  KING, ARDHANAREE and BAALA-TALE OF KANHA.
• Collaborated with Trike Theatre and Ra-Ve Cultural Foundation to
  create an original adaptation of the well-known story, The Jungle
  Book mixed with theatrical storytelling and classical Indian dance.
• Established Dhirana Academy for Indian Classical Dance which
  trains 100+ students and creates opportunities for them to perform
  and also exposes them to various learning opportunities such as
  dance workshops, dance competitions, events. Also graduates
  senior disciples through Arangetram. Since 2017 Dhirana Academy
  organizes an annual event ‘Pradashana’ for young students to have
  the experience performing for a wider audience
• Since 1996 performed 1000+ dance performances across India and
  the US, some of them nationally significant events such as
  Nrityotsav-Mumbai, West Bengal Tourism Festival Calcutta,
  Pallavothsav Mysore, Navaraspur Utsav Bijapur, Hampi Utsav, India
  Fest – Little Rock, 21st TANA Conference -St louis.
• She was an early achiever in the Bharatanatyam and won many
  national and state competitions conducted by government and
  private organizations. Considering her accomplishments in the field
  she has been regularly invited to perform by various organizations
  in India and USA.

Artistic Exhibitions/Performance

• Bentonville Film Festival – The Momentary- June 2023
• Bentonville Together – Multicultural Festival – April 2023
• Artist 360 Full Circle Showcase – Crystal Bridges Museum – April
  2023
• 14th American Natya Festival – St Louis, Mo – 2023
• Sammilana 2023 by Shivalli Kutumba in Houston Tx.
• Margazhi Nrityothsava 2023 – Andra Mahila Sabha, Chennai 2023
• Natyam by Ra-Ve Cultural Foundation @ KIFA Studio-Dec 2022
• Kannada Rajyotsava @ Thedan Great Hall – 2022
• Onam Celebration by NANMA @ BWHS PAC – 2022
• Botanical Garden at Ozarks – 2022
• LIVE in America at The Momentary – June 2022
• Baala-Tale of Kanha – @Walton Arts Center, Fayetteville – 2022
• Collision-When visions combine, The momentary, Bentonville-2021.
• 12th American Natya Festival, St. Louis-2021
• Art Party-CACHE, Rogers-2021
• ARt Ventures, Fayetteville-2021(RVCF-One of the cohort members
  of ART Connect
• The Exiled King-Walton Arts Center, Fayetteville-2021
• In The Atrium-Walton Arts Center, Fayetteville-2021
• Value The World Series-Sapthami Foundation-2020
• Ardhanaree -A duet performance for RVCF 2020
• International Art & Culinary Week Downtown Bentonville Inc.2020
• Independence Day celebration by ICANWA 2020
• Botanical Garden at Ozarks 2020
• Friday Nights at the Lawn by Crystal Bridges Museum 2020
• Sankirtana 2020
• International Festival at Downtown Bentonville 2019
• NAVIKA 2019 at Cincinnati OH
• International Festival 2019 at Ozarks
• Springdale Cultural Festival by House of Songs-2019
• Charity and Fundraising event by AAPI – 2019
• SANKIRTANA HANWA USA 2019
• Walmart Asian Pacific Associate Resource Network – APAN Heritage
  Event 2019
• AAPI 2019
• Navarasa Margam 2018
• India Fest, Little Rock, Arkansas 2018
• Sankirtana HANWA, USA 2018
• University of Arkansas Diwali Celebrations 2017
• Sri Lanka Flood Relief Fund Raiser Event Bentonville Arkansas USA
  2017
• Thaipoosa Festival HANWA USA 2017
• Multicultural Festival at Root Elementary School Fayetteville
  Arkansas USA 2017
• Ugadi Sambaralu NWA USA 2017
• Independence Day Celebration Bentonville Arkansas USA 2017
• HANWA Music and Dance Festival-Sakala Kala Samarpana 2017
• Charity event by NWA AAPI (American Association of Physicians of
  Indian origin) Bentonville Ar 2017
• India Fest, Little Rock, USA 2017
• TANA Festival St Louis Missouri USA 2017
• DBI’s First Friday International Festival Bentonville Arkansas USA
  2017
• Fundraiser for Pediatric Cancer Treatment Bentonville Arkansas
  USA 2016
• India Fest Little Rock Arkansas USA 2016
• NWA Kannada Rajyotsava Celebrations 2016
• Sargam NWA USA 2016
• Diwali Celebrations by GIACA Rogers Arkansas USA 2016
• Northwest Arkansas International Festival hosted by NWACC USA
  2015
• India Fest, Little Rock, USA 2015
• Pongal Celebration, NWA, USA 2015
  Language of Art Multilingual Open House, Crystal Bridges-Museum
  of American Art, NWA, USA 2015
• School Fundraiser, Fayetteville, USA 2015
• Pongal Celebration, NWA, USA. 2014
• Sargam, Northwest Arkansas, USA. 2014
• Pongal Celebration, Northwest Arkansas, USA. 2014
• Navratri celebration at Temple, Northwest Arkansas, USA.
• Sargam, Northwest Arkansas, USA. 2011,2012
• American Art, NWA, USA 2015
• School Fundraiser, Fayetteville, USA 2015
• Pongal Celebration, NWA, USA. 2014
• Sargam, Northwest Arkansas, USA. 2014
• Pongal Celebration, Northwest Arkansas, USA. 2014
• Navratri celebration at Temple, Northwest Arkansas, USA.
• Sargam, Northwest Arkansas, USA. 2011,2012
• Performance at Mantralaya on Vardanti and Pattabhisheka 2010
• Hampi Utsav – Group Performance with Vidya Venkatraman and 11
  troupe at Hampi 2010
• West Bengal Tourism Festival- Kolkata 2010
• Dasara- Main Palace- with Dr Vasundhara Doreswamy in “Durga”
  2010
• Navaraspur Utsav – A National festival – Bijapur 2010
• Pallavothsava – Mysore 2010
• Indian Institution of World Culture- Bengaluru 2010
• ISKCON Temple- with Dr Vasundhara Doreswamy and troop 2010
• 2006: Performed at “Nalanda Nrityotsav”- A national level dance
  festival held at Mumbai.

Community Outreach

• Arkansas Arts Academy(AAA) Summer Dance Intensive-June 2021
• House Concert-Lecture Demonstration-May 2021
• Viriiya Drop In Classes-RVCF-CACHE Project-2021
• Alaripu Workshop-March 2021
•  Expression In Dance Workshop-RVCF- July 2020

 Education

• Masters Degree- University of Bangalore, India.
• Post-Graduate Diploma in Media Presentation – Loyola College, Chennai, India. Bachelors in Arts (Journalism)- St Philomena’s College, Mysore, India.
• Bharatanatyam Junior Exam 1998 – Karnataka State Secondary Examination Board, India. Bharatanatyam Senior Exam 2000 – Karnataka State Secondary Examination Board, India. Bharatanatyam Vidwat Exam 1st Class 2003 – Karnataka State Secondary Examination Board, India.
• Rangapravesam/Arangetram 2002 – A debut solo recital of 2-3 hours, which requires years of training, dedication and practice.

Awards and Honors

Awards

• Award of Excellence in Entertainment for Stage Performances 2015 – Tamil Community, Northwest Arkansas, USA
• Rajyothsava Prashasthi awarded by Jilla Kannada Sahitya Parishat an organization promoting art and culture in Karnataka
• Aryabhata Award 2006 by Aryabhatta Cultural Organizations Bengaluru
• Karnataka State IMA Cultural Award 2003 as part of 69th state medical conference.
• Ugadi Puraskar 2004 by Chaitanya Balaga, Mandya which promotes social and cultural development in Mandya Karnataka India.

Honors for contributions and achievement in the field of dance

• Karavali Samskruthika Sangha Mandya honored Ms Rao as part of Vasantotsav 2004
• Shiv Sena Karnataka Mandya District honored Ms Rao with Puruskrita Pratibhe -2001
•  Sri Ranjini Kalavedhike Mandya – Ugadi Puraskar 2003
•  Chaitanya Balaga 2006
• Prathiba Sanje 2005 – Akhila Karnataka Karavali Samskrithika Vokutta
• Kannada Bharati-2006
• Mandya zilla Brahmana Sabha 2002
• Gurudev Academy of Fine Arts

Achievement

• 2020: Winner Of Momentary Virtual Tower Talent Show,NWA, USA.
• 2005: First prize at 38th All India Competition in Music and Dance 2005 at Hyderabad
• 2005: Second place in “Yuvaprathibe” – A state level Dance and Music competition
• 2005: Second place in “Yuvajanotsava” – A zonal level Dance competition
• 2005: Represented Mysore University at the south zone cultural competition [Bharatanatyam] “Yuva Kalanjali” at Bengaluru
• 2004: Second Prize at 37th All India competition in Music and Dance at Hyderabad
• 2004: Second Prize in Karnataka Govt. “Kishora Prathibe” – A state level Bharatanatyam competition
• 2003: Gold Medal and Rolling Shield in Gopinath Das Nyasa Memorial state level Dance competition
• 2003: First place in state level Dance competition held by Nritya Kala parishath in Mysore
• 2003: Second place in district level Music and Dance competition held by Rotary in Mandya
• 2003: Third place in district level Bharatanatyam competition held by Rotary in Mandya
• 2002: Second place in Karnataka state “Yuvajanolsava”– Folk dance competition
• 2001: First place in Karnataka Govt. zonal level “Kishora Prathibe” Bharatanatyam competition
• 2001: Silver medal in Gopinath Das Nyasa Memorial state level Music and Dance competition
• 2000: Gold medal in Gopinath Das Nyasa Memorial state level Music and Dance competition