Taraana was founded in 2013 by artistic director and Kathak danceuse – Shritha Baskar , along with her mother and business head – Vasantha Baskar. A joint vision – Taraana – was born out of a Skype conversation with the rest of the family.
Taraana has evolved into a premier Kathak Academy catering to over students of differing backgrounds ages ranging from 6 to 60. The dance academy offers 40 group lessons a week in their state of the art studio in Nungambakkam.
Shritha Baskar is a Kathak danseuse born and brought up in Dubai. She began training at the tender age of five under Guru Smt. Ketaki Hazra, who herself is a disciple of Smt. Bela Arnab. Being trained in the Jaipur and Lucknow Gharana of Kathak, Shritha had earned herself a Senior Diploma in Kathak Dance from the Surabharati Sangeet Parishad, Kolkata, at the age of seventeen.
She has several performances to her credit in Dubai which include regular recitals for the Diplomatic Corps of various countries, the Indian Embassy and the Festival of India around regions of the Arabian Gulf.
In addition to her regular performances and schooling, Shritha simultaneously took pleasure in teaching Kathak and contemporary dance to the students of the ‘Dubai Centre for Special Needs’ and ‘Special Needs Families’ for three consecutive summers. Her work with the differently-abled has gained her many more accolades in the United Arab Emirates.
Moving to Chennai in 2011 only made it more opportune for Shritha to attend workshops conducted by Pandit Birju Maharaj and Saswati Sen in Delhi. Performing for the annual Indo-Korea trade meet is just one of her many performances in Chennai. Adept in both Nrtta and Abhinaya, Shritha’s performances have been well lauded.
