Arpita Roy, is a renowned "Lucknow Gharana" Kathak dancer, a very creative and stylized choreographer and a passionate teacher who has more than 30 years of experience on Kathak. Arpita learnt Kathak from Guru Parimal Krishna, disciple of Pandit Ram Narayan Mishra. Later she enriched herself from famous Guru Bandana Sen, disciple of Pandit Shambhu Maharaj; Pandit Vijay Shankar; famous Kathak dancer, Sandip Mallick, disciple of Pandit Birju Maharaj and Souvik Chakraborty, India very promising Kathak exponent and disciple of Pandit Birju Maharaj and Kumudini Lakhia.

Arpita has Nritya Prabhakar and Nritya Visarad in Kathak from prestigious Allahabad Board and Tailakka Board of India. Arpita is Gold Medalist in Tailakka board (all over India). She is a gold medal winner in Kathak dance competition in Bani Chakra Dance School, Calcutta and 3rd place winner in the very prestigious Doverlane music competition in Calcutta.

Jhanak offers the following certification and degree (graduation and post-graduation) courses. All exams are held every year by Kathak exponents from India. Typically 5-year degree takes about 6 years and post-graduation takes about 2 years.

  • Affiliationwith PADATIK Dance Centre also helps students earn prestigious certificates and 5-year graduation and 2-year post graduation in Kathak. Jhanak conducts yearly Kathak exams live through video conference with famous gurus from India. Jhanak’s students are constantly evaluated by gurus from India.
  • Jhanak also offers degree course and certification from “Prachin Kala Kendra”, Chandigarh, the premier educational organization for the promotion, preservation and dissemination of Indian classical arts of music, dance and fine arts

Jhanak dance academy understands that there are many dance academies. This sometimes makes it difficult for parents to decide on an academy where their child would get authentic dance education. The following reasons ensure that parents are at the right place for their child’s dance education:

  • Jhanak has been serving the community with authentic dance education since 2004. It has been a very successful 12 years.

  • Jhanak’s artistic director, Arpita Roy, is extremely skillful and experienced Kathak and contemporary dancer, a very creative choreographer and highly successful teacher.

  • Jhanak students have been extremely successful in many competitions and have a unique record of winning at least one prize in every competition they participated since its inception. This speaks of about their motivation, hard-work and love for dance that Jhanak’s artistic director instills in them. Students’ success is the true reflection of the quality of dance training that they get in Jhanak Dance Academy.

  • Jhanak is proudly affiliated with PADATIK Dance Centre, India. PADATIK is one of India's premier Kathak and contemporary dance institutions. This enables Jhanak to train its students under the constant guidance of India’s very successful and famous gurus with world class music and elegant dance costumes.

  • Affiliation with PADATIK Dance Centre also helps students earn prestigious certificates and 5-year graduation and 2-year post graduation in Kathak.

  • Jhanak conducts yearly Kathak exams live through video conference with famous gurus from India. Jhanak’s students are constantly evaluated by gurus from India.

  • Jhanak also offers degree course and certification from “Prachin Kala Kendra”, Chandigarh, the premier educational organization for the promotion, preservation and dissemination of Indian classical arts of music, dance and fine arts.

  • Conveniently located dance studios – in Herndon and Ashburn.

Jhanak always encourages its students to perform on stage since performances make a dancer more confident and it creates a sense of achievement. Since its inception in 2004, Jhanak’s students have participated in numerous prestigious events including the following:

• Dance India Dance (North America)
• BOOGI WOOGI Dance Competitions
• National Cherry Blossom Festival
• International Children Festival at the Wolf Trap
• Reston Multi-cultural Festival
• Image-In-Asian Talent show
• Zee Heritage India Festival
• Dance Maasti – Dance competition
• IDC Dance competition
• Holi Celebration
• India’s Republican Day Celebration
• Ganesh Festival
• Dusserah Festival

Jhanak also organizes annual recital every year where all students get a chance to portray their talents. Jhanak students have been extremely successful in many competitions and have a unique record of winning at least one prize in every competition they participated since its inception. This speaks of about their motivation, hard-work and love for dance that Jhanak’s artistic director instills in them. Students’ success is the true reflection of the quality of dance training that they get in Jhanak Dance Academy. Here is a list of students’ success at the competitions:

• Dance India Dance (North America) – Top 10 finalist (telecast in Zee TV)
• BOOGI WOOGI Dance Competitions – state Championship – two times
• Dance Maasti – Dance competition –2015 & 2016 – 1st prize (junior and senior category)
• THE ACADEMY OF MUSIC & FINE ARTS competition (2015) – 1st, 2nd and 3rd (junior), 1st (senior)
• THE ACADEMY OF MUSIC & FINE ARTS competition (2014) – 2nd (junior), 1st (senior)
• Ganesh Festival – won 5 prizes (1st place in all categories, 2nd prize (junior & senior))
• “IDC” Dance Competition - 2nd and 5th prizes (Jr. group), 2nd and 5th (Sr. group) First and 3rd prize (Sr. solo)
• “Dance Maasti” Dance Competition (2011) - First and Third prizes (Jr. group), First prize (Jr. solo), 2nd prize (Sr. group), 2nd & 3rd (Sr. solo)
• “Dance Maasti” in Heritage India Festival (2012) - First and Third prizes (group), First and Third prizes (solo)
• BOOGI WOOGI Dance Competition- State level champion
• “Dance Maasti” in Heritage India Festival (2011) - First and Second prizes
• Jeep Dance Masti (2010) - First and Third prizes
• IDEA Classical Dance Competition (Kathak category) - First and Second prizes