Shikha is a Kathak dance performer who has kept the wave of Indian culture and tradition alive in a foreign land. She feels proud to instil a passion for classical Indian dance in students.

Shikha Chhangani is a Kathak performer and director at Tatkaar Kathak Institute, based in Ahmedabad. She has been in this profession for the last fifteen years, and it has been six years since she moved to Australia.

Shikha says she hails from Rajasthan, got married in Jaipur, and settled in Ahmedabad after marriage. Recalling her childhood, Shikha says that her early days were full of energy and the fun time she spent with her cousins. She had been fond of dance since her childhood. Shikha shares that her father is a renowned stage artist in Jaipur. She goes on to mention that, belonging to a family of judges, she pursued B.Com L.L.B. too. Pursuing her passion for dance at the same time, Shikha earned a ‘Visharad’ degree in Kathak.

Talking about her dance journey, Shikha says, on the advice of her mother, she started learning Bharatanatyam and practised it for over five years. Her journey in Kathak took birth in Jaipur, where she met her dance guru, Shweta Garg.

Describing her struggles, Shikha shares that there came a time when she felt like leaving everything and not moving forward with her dance career. However, at that time, her mother and her dance guru helped her out of the confusion. Shikha recollects a stage show incident wherein she forgot the script while her students were performing on the stage. Since then, she keeps a note of every performance script.

Deciding to start her Kathak institute while leaving her high-paying job was another challenge that Shikha faced. Moving to Australia while keeping the spirit of Tatkaar alive was another step that she had to take. Shikha is thankful to her students, who have been her constant support throughout the journey.

When asked about her role models, Shikha says she draws inspiration from her parents and her dance guru. She also looks up to her in-laws and her husband and admires them for their positive attitude.

Shikha advises aspiring kathak dancers to first look for a guru to kickstart their dance journey. She suggests they be patient and not be afraid of challenges that might come their way.