Surabhi Kulkarni

Sunnyvale, California

Surabhi began her kathak training at the age of seven under Smt. Shambhavi Dandekar and further refined her artistry under Amruta Paranjape. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Dance with a Gold Medal and a Master’s degree with Distinction, earning a Silver Medal from Lalit Kala Kendra, Savitribai Phule Pune University. She has also completed her Advanced Diploma from Bharati Vidyapeeth and is a Nritya Alankar of Gandharva Mahavidyalaya under Asmita Thakur.

A dynamic and versatile performer, Surabhi has presented her art at prestigious festivals including India’s International Dance Festival, Bengaluru Ganeshotsav, and the Pt. Rohini Bhate Nrityotsav. She has also represented India at the Maharashtra Cultural Centre in Japan. In 2025, she presented full-length kathak solo performances at the IFAASD Youth Festival and across several cities including San Diego, Houston (TX), Sunnyvale, and Dublin in the Bay Area. Her artistic excellence has been recognized with numerous accolades, including the Pt. Lacchu Maharaj Ji Award and the Pt. Rajendra Gangani Kathak Alankaran 2022. She is also a part of NrityaChakra—a landmark initiative recognized by both the World Record Books of India and the Limca Book of Records for the maximum number of kathak compositions performed collectively by dancers.

Since 2015, Surabhi has been actively involved in teaching under her guru’s institute, Ábhivyakti. She currently serves as an assistant teacher at Shambhavi’s International School of Kathak (SISK) in San Francisco and is a member of the SISK Dance Ensemble. Beyond performance and pedagogy, she works as a freelance social media strategist, passionately advocating for classical arts in the digital age. Her Master’s thesis, "Changing Aesthetic of Kathak on Social Media during the Pandemic," was widely appreciated for its insightful exploration of evolving artistic expression and audience engagement.

Surabhi has also contributed as a movement development teacher for autistic children, integrating therapeutic dance techniques to nurture motor skills, confidence, and self-expression. She remains actively involved with the Baithak Foundation’s Anubhav Sessions, bringing meaningful artistic experiences to school students and fostering cultural appreciation among younger generations.

Surabhi’s dance is deeply rooted in traditional kathak yet transcends conventional boundaries, as she continuously explores innovative narratives and choreographic styles. Her penchant for storytelling breathes life into her performances, fueled by her analytical nature and appetite for research—evident in her impactful thesis that resonated with dancers and critics alike. Driven by a fervent desire for collaboration and artistic exploration, Surabhi embarks on a journey to push the boundaries of kathak while remaining anchored to its rich cultural heritage.