About the Guru

Deepa Natarajan, also known as "Deepa Teacher" to her students is a renowned Bharatanatyam dance guru and the teacher at Nrithya Geethanjali School of Dance in Potomac, MD. She is an exponent of the Thanjavur Bani of Bharatnatyam. ​

 

Guru Deepa Natarajan started learning Bharatnatyam at the age of 4 from Guru Smt. Rajee Narayan, and since then fell in love with this form of dance.  Guru Rajee Narayan was a rare combination of Bharatanatyam guru, musician, composer, and choreographer. Smt. Narayan taught not only Bharatanatyam but also Carnatic Music, Natyashastra, and Nattuvangam. Deepa gained mastery over these arts and at the age of 13 she performed her Arangetram, winning the audience with her talent. In an attempt to share this talent and the love of dance with others she began teaching dance. Deepa set up her first academy in Columbia, South Carolina in 1995 with a few students.  She continued teaching dance as her life took her to Bangalore, India,  where under her guru's guidance she opened Nrithya Geethanjali dance school. Deepa taught over 55 students while in India. She has also performed across India and the US and won many awards across National and International festivals. ​

 

Deepa currently resides in Potomac MD and  Nrithya Geethanjali has grown. She is hoping to inspire the same interest for dance which she embodies. She has an innate talent to connect with students of all ages. This rare capability allows her to teach this ancient art form to a new generation of students and drive appeal for the art form among a modern audience.  Deepa continues to perform Bharatanatyam and inspire students who will hopefully take this art form well into the next millennia. ​​​