In a tucked-away studio in Cave Creek, a centuries-old Indian classical tradition comes alive through one woman’s journey of devotion, resilience, and rediscovery.
This past weekend, I happened to visit a dance studio hidden away in a corner of Cave Creek strip mall. I walked in with little idea of what awaited me. What I discovered was far more than a dance class- I met an astounding performer, artist, teacher, and a lifelong Kathak-dipped soul, Mrs. Shaily Bhandari.
Our introduction quickly became a journey through decades of her life.
Shaily shared how her relationship with Kathak began in childhood, when her mother became her first Guru and introduced her to this beautiful classical art form. What began as a childhood passion gradually became a deep-rooted discipline. She went on to complete her Visharad in Kathak under the tutelage of Guru Shri Suresh Dharmadhikariji, a disciple of Late Pt. Shri Durga Prasad Ji of the Jaipur Gharana, from Indira Kala Sangeet Vishwavidyalaya, Khairagarh University.
The Language of Rhythm
For those unfamiliar with Kathak, it is one of India’s major classical dance traditions, originating in North India. The word Kathak comes from Katha, meaning “story.” Traditionally, Kathak artists were storytellers who used movement, rhythm, expression, and music to bring stories to life.
What makes Kathak particularly mesmerizing is its combination of intricate footwork, rhythmic patterns, graceful turns, expressive gestures, and storytelling through facial expressions.
The rhythmic footwork, known as tatkar, is performed with ankle bells called ghungroo, creating a musical conversation between the dancer and the tabla or other accompanying instruments. Dancers can also perform rapid spins, known as chakkars, while maintaining remarkable control and balance.
But Kathak is not simply about technique.
It is about abhinaya—expression and emotional storytelling. A dancer can communicate joy, devotion, longing, mischief, love, or an entire story without speaking a single word.
And perhaps that is why Shaily’s journey feels so deeply connected to the art. Kathak was never merely something she learned. It became a part of who she was.
A Pause, But Never an Ending
Life, however, has its own choreography.
As a migrant, wife, homemaker, and mother, Shaily's journey took her through multiple moves across different countries as she supported her husband and family. Eventually, Arizona became home.
Along the way, her dancing had to take a pause -not for a year or two, but for nearly two decades.
Yet some passions never really disappear.
They wait.
When Shaily eventually felt it was time to return to the calling of her soul, she found tremendous encouragement from her husband. With the blessings of her India-based Guru, she began a new chapter of her Kathak journey in the United States under the guidance of Guru Smt. Shambhavi Dandekar Ji.
And from that renewed journey was born her own beautiful creation:
Nritya Shaily School of Kathak – Phoenix.
From Student to Guru
There was something particularly moving about watching Shaily teach.
I had the opportunity to experience one of her practice sessions, and the class began with the traditional gesture of touching the Guru’s feet - a simple but profound expression of respect and gratitude.
As the class progressed, I began to understand that Shaily was teaching much more than dance steps.
She watched her students carefully. She corrected their movements. She understood their individual abilities and patiently worked with them. There was an attentiveness in the way she taught that made it clear that every student mattered.
And then came the rhythm.
The sound of ghungroo. The footwork. The movement. The concentration. The repetition.
Even someone like me, who proudly admits to having two left feet - found myself completely captivated!
For a while, I wasn't thinking about whether I could dance. I was simply enjoying watching the art unfold.
Perhaps that is the magic of a true teacher. They don't merely teach you the steps; they help you fall in love with the journey.
A Legacy That Continues
What struck me most about Shaily's story was not simply that she returned to Kathak after decades away.
It was that she returned with a deeper understanding of what the art meant to her.
From a little girl introduced to Kathak by her mother, to a formally trained Visharad, to a woman who spent decades prioritizing family, and finally to a Guru creating a new home for Kathak in Arizona -her journey reflects something beautifully universal.
Sometimes, life asks us to put our passions aside.
But putting something on pause does not mean losing it.
Sometimes, the calling is still there, patiently waiting for us to return.
Today, through Nritya Shaily School of Kathak, Shaily is not only continuing her own artistic journey; she is passing the tradition forward to a new generation of students here in Arizona.
And perhaps that is one of the most beautiful things about Indian classical arts: they survive not simply through performances, but through Guru and Shishya, teacher and student, one generation passing knowledge to the next.
I left that little studio in Cave Creek with a new appreciation for Kathak -and an even greater appreciation for the woman who has devoted so much of her life to it.
I hope the photographs accompanying this story offer you a small glimpse into this beautiful art form and into the dedicated, lifelong student and teacher behind it.
Because sometimes, you walk into a little studio tucked away in a corner of town expecting to see a dance class.
And you walk out having discovered a story.
Meet the Artist
Nritya Shaily School of Kathak – Phoenix
Guru / Founder: Smt. Shaily Bhandari
Email: nrityashaily@gmail.com
Phone: (623) 396-8606
Phoenix Studio:
21043 N. Cave Creek Rd.
Ste. A5
Phoenix, AZ 85024
Connect with Nritya Shaily School of Kathak:
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