Archana Kumar resides in Seattle and has trained for over 16 years, both in Bharatanatyam, a south Indian art form and in Kathak, a north Indian art form. From 1996 she was a student at Natya Institute of Kathak & Choreography, a premier dance school in Bangalore, India. She was a member of STEM Contemporary Dance in Bangalore from 1998-2003, touring and performing at various festivals around India. Since 2000, she has been exploring techniques of contemporary dance and improvisation, composing works that blend Indian classical art with modern techniques to connect with modern audiences. In 2003 she formed the Manasarovar Kathak School, offering classes for children and adults in Seattle. She also formed the Z. A. Ensemble with a local modern dancer from China, Ying Zhou. They together create theater works that explore how we live in a world where diverse cultures constantly collide and transform each other. Their very well-received 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. Archana has conducted several classes and lecture-demonstrations in Seattle colleges, schools and at Bangalore University as a visiting Kathak, Modern Dance and Yoga artist. She has worked with talented Seattle choreographers K.T.Neihoff, Amy O'Neal, Cyrus Khambatta and Karn Junkinsmith. She holds a B.S. in Biology and Psychology and currently leads the Dance Wing of Pratidhwani. website: http://www.archanakathak.com/