DANCING PETALS imparts traditional Kathak dance education in regular classes conducted online and in person. Dancing Petals is a member of "The Imperial Society of Teachers of Dancing", one of the world’s leading dance examinations board. We are aligned with ISTD syllabus and follow a structured approach towards teaching students, training professionals and conducting examinations.
CLASSES
Classes are held weekly and sessions are conducted all year with a break in summer (July/Aug) and winter (Dec/ Jan)
KATHAK
Kathak, an Indian Classical Dance form, is the culmination of years of varied cultural influences on the art that emanated from the story-tellers of the ancient temples. The name Kathak is derived from the word ‘kathā’ meaning story. Kathak contains traces of temple and ritual dances, along with certain features of Persian and Central Asian dances.
FOUNDER/ DIRECTOR
Gurmeet K. Marhas, Founder and Artistic Director of Dancing Petals, has performed internationally across India, the United States, Mexico, Canada, and the United Kingdom.
Under her direction, Dancing Petals is dedicated to imparting traditional Kathak education while showcasing the depth and versatility of Classical Indian dance in both traditional and contemporary contexts. The organization has curated and presented numerous Kathak events in collaboration with groups such as the Schaumburg Library, Wheeling Park District, SEWA, ASHA for Education, Vedic Cultural Society, SeeChicagoDance, City of Chicago SummerDance, LUMA8, and others. Gurmeet is also the author of two books available on Amazon — The Kathak Quiz Book and Color Me Kathak – Book 1.
