SISK USA


Background

‘Shambhavi’s International School of Kathak’ or SISK, is the brainchild of Kathak Guru Shambhavi Dandekar. Through her successful career since 1990, Shambhavi has carved a niche for herself as a master performer-choreographer, a successful teacher and art entrepreneur. After working for 20 years in India as a branch head of alma mater Maneesha Nrityalaya, Shambhavi established SISK in 2010. Soon after, she moved to the San Francisco Bay Area with her family. The move led to the inception of SISK in the USA.


Vision
The vision of SISK is to encourage the symbiosis of Kathak dance activities across the globe.



Activities
Shambhavi invests her time in training senior level students in mastering the art, some of whom are directors of prominent Kathak dance schools in the country. She also trains a large number of adult students and helps them fulfil their dream to pursue the beautiful art form while managing their work. She regularly conducts online masterclasses which are attended by students from all over the world.



In January 2021, Shambhavi introduced the pathbreaking Distance Learning Program for adult beginners in Kathak under the auspices of SISK. In a matter of five months, 40 students from various cities of the USA, Canada, India, Middle East, U.K., Australia, Germany and the Netherlands have started learning Kathak through video lessons created by Shambhavi.
SISK has initiated various Kathak related activities not only in the SF Bay Area but throughout North America. Activities such as Gurukul Kathak Retreat, Baithak series, Riyaz Challenge, Watch-n-Learn Series, biennial student recital ‘Darpan’ as well as Dance and music certification exams By Bharati Vidyapeeth University are to name a few.

SISK student body
Shambhavi’s years of experience, intellectual understanding and analysis of the art form, have helped her create stellar performers out of her dedicated students. Many of her students have emerged as Kathak dance professionals. SISK serves as an umbrella organization to a number of dance institutes founded and run by Shambhavi’s senior disciples in various parts of the world. SISK alumni are making their impact through various aspects of Kathak such as Dance Therapy, Dance Publication, Dance Training, Dance Journalism, Dance Accessories Retail, etc.

SISK performing troupe
SISK Dance Ensemble, the performing troupe of SISK has danced at prestigious occasions in many parts of the world. In the USA, they have performed at the Ethnic Dance Festival, San Francisco International Arts Festival, Prasada Festival, Sanskriti Festival, and Ashavari Music Festival in the presence of stalwarts in Indian dance and music such as Ustad Zakir Hussain, Pt. Swapan Chaudhari, Pt. Jasraj, and Pt. Rajendra Gangani. SISK Dance Ensemble also did a successful five city USA tour of ‘Horizons...Kathak and beyond’, a dance production exploring the unique facets of Kathak dance. The Ensemble also performed in Dubai at an International India Convention.
Shambhavi has earned two fantastic reviews in the New York Times for her solo performances:
Drive East Dance Festival
Dancing the Gods Festival



Summary
Shambhavi is a firm believer of instilling the core values of a good human being in her students through her dance training. She encourages her students to excel through daily practice, perseverance, contemplation and dedication.

Website: www.siskdance.com
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/c/SISKShambhaviDandekar/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SISKShambhaviDandekar
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shambhavi_dandekar/