Nritya Arpan Dance School of Bharatnatyam & Indian Folk Dance - USA
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Founder & Artistic Director: Nishi Shah Nish*ta Shah is a dedicated teacher, choreographer, and performer. Hema Malini in mythological story based Ballets.
She commenced her dance and music education at the age of 4 under the tutelage of Smt. Bindu Shah of Kanta Kala Shikshan Kendra of Mumbai, India; who is a disciple of late Guru Shree Saunder Rajan Pillai. She double graduated in Bharatanatyam from Akhil Bharatiya Gandharva Maha Vidhyalaya and the Bharatiya Sangeet Samiti. Throughout the journey of 17 years of training; she learned various Indian d
ance styles from renowned and experienced teachers including Shree Bhushan Laakhaandri, Shree Deepak Mazumdaar and so on. She performed in Australia, New Zealand, United States, London, Russia, Indonesia, Singapore, Dubai and many parts of India as a professional dancer for 5 years with Bollywood actress Padma Bhushan Smt. She holds Masters of Science in E-Commerce Technology and has worked as a website developer. She founded Nrityangana Dance School in Milwaukee, WI and then after relocating to Edmond, OK, Nritya Arpan Dance School in 2010 where students undergo a systematic syllabus of Bharatanatyam followed by annual tests. Students also learn and perform Indian traditional folk dances and Bollywood. Apart from being innovative choreographer and performer, she is also a recipient of the Global Citizen Award in Arts given by the World Experiences Foundation. She has received recognition from the state of Oklahoma. She also had a featured article for her community involvement through her dance school in the Daily Oklahoman in 2016. Recently, she has been awarded the President's Volunteer Service Award & Gold Medal given by the White House for her service providing the finest dance instruction to students and her volunteer work promoting multiculturalism in Oklahoma schools and communities through arts. For the past 4 years, Nish*ta is also invited as a judge to an Intercollegiate Dance Competition at Oklahoma University. Recently, she was awarded in entertainment and culture category by Teachers Appreciation Foundation. Her students have won prizes at various dance competitions including Asian Festivals, Natya Kalakar and Festivals Got Talent. Some of the recent dance performances include at the Oklahoma State Capitol, Scissortail Park, Myriad Botanical Gardens, Festival of the Arts, India Food and Arts Festival, Downtown Edmond Arts Festival, Kids Fest by Metro Family Magazine, OSSM International Students Night, Rhythm of the World, Art Around the World, Turkish Fest, Vietnames Fest, etc... Nritya Arpan Dance School takes pride in imparting a sacred art of Bharatnatyam in expressing the purity of the Nalanda Style of International fame. Bharatnatyam being the oldest and purest form of Indian classical dance is a combination of music, expression and rhythm. It is usually accompanied by classical Karnataka music, from the South Indian state of Tamil Nadu, practiced predominantly in modern times by women. Its inspirations come from the sculptures of the ancient temple of Chidambaram. Bharatnatyam, it is said, is the embodiment of music in visual form, a ceremony, and an act of devotion (bhakti). Indian folk dances are simple dances, and are performed to express joy. Folk and tribal dances are performed for every possible occasion, to celebrate the arrival of seasons, birth of a child, a wedding and festivals. The skill and the imagination of the dances influence the performance.
06/08/2026
Congratulations, Swetangi, on your beautiful Bharatanatyam Arangetram! ❤️
Your journey over the past 2.5 years has been one of dedication, resilience, and devotion. Watching you grow into a confident and expressive dancer while balancing the many responsibilities of life has been truly inspiring.
So proud of all that you have accomplished. Wishing you continued joy and blessings on your dance journey. 🙏✨
Nritya-Arpan Dance School proudly congratulates our diligent student and the first graduating student from our ladies group, Swetangi, on her upcoming Arangetram. 🌸✨
This special milestone reflects her incredible hard work, devotion, sincerity, and passion for Bharatanatyam achieved within just 2½ years of dedicated training. Watching Swetangi grow as a dancer has been truly inspiring, and her grace, commitment, and enthusiasm shine beautifully in every performance.
We wish her confidence, success, and many wonderful achievements as she begins this new chapter in her artistic journey. May her love for dance continue to flourish and inspire many others. 💐
04/01/2026
As part of the Road To Culture event, N**S students performed Bharatanatyam dances, presented by the Metropolitan Library of Edmond in association with the India Association of Oklahoma.
11/24/2025
N**S proudly presented a diverse showcase of Indian culture at the 6th Annual India Food & Arts Festival 2025, which included:
Carnatic Music, Classical Dance (featuring Pushpanjali and Alarippu), Traditional Folk Dance (featuring Pahadi Folk Dance), Semi-Classical Dance (on a medley of Bollywood songs), and Cultural Showcase (Indian Fashion Show).
11/19/2025
✨ Rishika’s Arangetram, a Milestone of Grace, Discipline, and Pure Devotion ✨
I am delighted to share these captivating highlights from Rishika’s Arangetram, which fill my heart with immense pride and joy. Witnessing her poised, confident, expressive, and passionate stage presence was truly an unforgettable experience.
The journey to this milestone required years of unwavering dedication, discipline, practice, and love for the art. Seeing Rishika embody every movement, rhythm, and emotion with remarkable maturity serves as a testament to the true essence of classical dance.
Although this post is late, Rishika, you made the stage your own that day. Your performance was not merely a showcase of skill, but a reflection of your hard work, commitment, and the blessings of everyone who has supported you. You have made us all incredibly proud.
I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude to everyone who attended the Arangetram to shower their blessings on Rishika. I also thank all family members who have encouraged her throughout this beautiful journey.
Here’s to Rishika’s continued growth, her love for dance, and many more milestones to come. 🌺✨
Photography and Videography by: SPV Studio Prasad Golkonda
11/16/2025
It was my pleasure to teach the GSO ladies group garba for this year's Diwali event, and their performance showcased incredible beauty and perfection. I am very proud of their achievements and thankful for this opportunity. The video will be posted soon.
10/20/2025
Commemorating 15 years of existence! Extending warm Diwali wishes! 🎊 🪔
10/20/2025
08/23/2025
Best wishes to Sanya and Ria for their duet Arangetram tomorrow! May divine blessings be upon them.
08/09/2025
We had a fantastic time at the Gala Award Night hosted by the Happy World Foundation Inc., founded by Akash Patel. The evening celebrated individuals who have made meaningful contributions to the OKC Metro through their leadership and philanthropy. It was an incredible honor to present an Indian dance performance at such a special event. Thank you Akash Patel and Hilda De Leon Xavier for this invitation.