Independent Choreographer
Community
Diverse
Dance Genres
Indian
Rathna Kumar
Female / She/Her/Hers
An internationally reputed, award winning dancer, choreographer, teacher and arts educator, Rathna Kumar established the first Indian dance school in Texas 50 years ago. Today the Anjali Center for Performing Arts has over 250 students and operates at 4 locations. Along the way, while building her extraordinary dance institute and training thousands of students from all over the country, Rathna garnered many an award, both in the US and India, among them is a Congressional Recognition, Nomination to the Texas Women’s Hall of Fame, METRO’s Distinguished Asian award, an Honorary Doctorate in Performing Arts, and recognition by 6 Houston mayors. Rathna is the only non-resident Indian to receive the Government of India’s most prestigious award, from the President of India, for Excellence in Performing Arts (Kuchipudi). Her pioneering efforts at promoting Indian classical and folk dance forms through Anjali as well as Samskriti, the non profit organization she founded 30 years ago, April 29 (World Dance Day) has been declared Rathna Kumar Day, and May 9 as Samskriti Day. Rathna’s name has become synonymous with Indian dance in Texas.