About the Guru

Distinguished. Creative. Inspiring.

Kalashri Asha Gopal is the Founder/Director of the Arathi School of Dance.  The school was founded in the year 1981, and offers classes in Phoenix and Tucson, Arizona, and has students in Las Vegas, Nevada. In the 35th year in 2016, Arathi school graduated the 200th student; the 100th student graduating in the 25th year.
Asha Gopal teaches the Pandanallur style of Bharata Natya, learned under eminent teachers, Guru Muthiah Pillai, Guru Kittappa Pillai, and Professor U.S. Krishna Rao.
Asha Gopal is a distinguished dancer and teacher.  She has the distinction of turning out the most number of arangetram graduates, earning her a spot in the Guinness Book of World Records. She has received noteworthy awards: ‘Singar Mani’ title from Sur Singar Samsad, Mumbai (1969), NRI Excellence award in London, England (1993), Karnataka Kalashri award from Sangeet Natak Academy (1999), and Citizen of the Year award from the Asian American Association of Arizona (2000), among others.
Asha Gopal has represented the Governments of Karnataka and India as a cultural ambassador, giving performances in Sikkim for King of Sikkim and in Canada for Prime Minister Pierre Elliot Trudeau.  She had the privilege of giving performances for two former Presidents of India and former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi and has given memorable performances in Europe, Mexico, and the USA.