Archana Kumar currently residing in Seattle, WA has been learning and researching dance for the past 16 years. She is well trained in two Indian Classical Dance forms Bharatanatyam, a South Indian art form for 7 years, Kathak a North Indian art form for 10 years and modern dance since 2000 in Seattle.

Since 1996 she has been student at "Natya Institute of Kathak & Choreography", a premier school of dance in Bangalore, India. She was a member of STEM Contemporary Dance (Bangalore India) from 1998-2003, touring nationally & performed at various festivals around India.

Summer of 2003 she formed the Manasarovar Kathak School, offering beginner & intermediate classes for children & adults in Seattle. She has also worked with local modern dancer, Ying Zhou creating dance theater works that explore how we live in a world where diverse cultures constantly collide and transform each other. Their works are sourced from personal experiences as female immigrants, draw on their rich and unique cultural heritages, and combine a wide range of movement vocabulary. These works have been well received both at avant-garde performance venues and cultural events organized by minority activist groups.

Archana has conducted several 101 classes & lecture demos in Seattle colleges & schools AND at the Bangalore University as a visiting artist on Kathak, beginning Modern Dance & Yoga. She has worked with talented Seattle choreographers such as K.T.Neihoff, Amy O’Neal, Cyrus Khambatta & Karn Junkinsmith. She holds a B.S. in Biology & Psychology. She was the Dance Wing lead of local Indian association-PRATIDHWANI in 2006. Most recently she co-directed one of Seattle’s largest South-Asian performing arts festival, Utsav06.

Her primary interest is to explore techniques of contemporary dance & improvisation, composing works that blend Indian classical art with modern techniques to connect with the audience of the modern world.

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