ABOUT US
Rooted in tradition,
we nurture dancers
with grace, expression,
and cultural depth.
Dikshaa Dance Academy has been teaching Bharatanatyam in the Bay Area for 14 years. We are proudly entering our 15th year this year. While teaching traditional Bharatanatyam, Artistic Director, Shilpa Torvi, has strived to teach to her students beyond the art form, the culture and our place in it as artists. She has worked diligently to build a community of dancers who can proudly claim their heritage and their place in this modern world. For the past 14 years, Dikshaa Dance Academy has continued to make strides bringing Indian Dance and music to a wider audience through programs that break with tradition and yet are steadfast in their commitment to our rich cultural heritage. In our 15th year . Over the years we have put together avante-garde productions such as – Ayodhyecha Raja, Mystics of the Valley, Veerangana – Valiant Women, Bhakti – Reform and Renaissance and this year we bring another production – I Rise – Shakti Awakened.
A community where students lead, create, and push the boundaries of Bharatanatyam.
About Shilpa Torvi
Originally a computer Engineer from Pune, Shilpa was always intrigued by dance and drawn to it’s grace and beauty. Shilpa feels fortunate to have learnt from Guru Smt. Vishal Ramani, whose passion and devotion has inspired her to follow her own passion. Shilpa also received training from Guru Madurai R. Murlidharan.
Shilpa is the Artistic Director of Dikshaa Dance Academy and has produced several Avante Garde productions based on Bharatanatyam, in an effort to expand it’s appeal across cultures.
Currently, Shilpa is learning Nattuvangam from Guru Indira Kadambi. Shilpa feels fortunate to have the guidance of such stalwarts, and brings a fresh perspective drawn from the unique teachings of each of her gurus.
She feels proud to be able to nurture a generation of students growing up away from India with a strong sense of belonging, and pride in their cultural heritage.
Towards that end, most of Dikshaa Dance Academy productions have been student based, to give local young talent a platform to perform and perfect their art.
Shilpa is passionate about dance and music. Besides being the Artistic Director of Dikshaa Dance Academy, she also serves on the committee for Intonation Foundation which is a non-profit for Hindustani Music to provide a platform for local artists.