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 Usha
Raghavan has been invited by various cultural centers in Europe
every year since 1980 as visiting professor for teaching and
performing Bharatanatyam. The premier institution for promotion
of Indian arts in Paris, France 'Centre Mandapa' invited Usha
for eight months in 1980 as their residence teacher and to
give workshops and performances all over France. In 1981,
she was invited by Teatro Tascabile Di Bergamo, Italy, the
premier theatre group specialising in Indian art forms.
She was then exposed to the beautiful world of contemporary
theatre while teaching Bharatanatyam to the actors. Since
then she has toured every year extensively in France, Switzerland,
Italy, Germany and the United Kingdom giving workshops, lecture
demonstrations and performances.
Her
dance tour of France was sponsored by the Indian Council for
Cultural Relations. She was invited twice to dance for the
International Yoga Conference, an annual event in Switzerland.
One of her notable performances was for the then Prime Minister
of France, Mr.Raymond Barre and His Highness the Aga Khan.
She was also invited to perform for the UNESCO, Paris, twice.
The two part documentary film on Bharatanatyam by Usha for
the Switzerland TV won much acclaim. Usha was also invited
to dance for the World Tourism Exhibition in Paris. She performed
on Italian TV on 'Feet Movements' and has, in addition, performed
in various International Theater Festivals in Italy. Having
been sponsored by the World University Services, she has also
led troupes to Singapore, Malaysia and Thailand. 
Usha
Raghavan's perfect sense of pedagogy and wide knowledge of
Indian dance and traditions has gained her the reputation
as a teacher of exemplary talent. She has students not only
in India but also in Italy, France, Switzerland, UK and the
USA. Usha also takes pride in having trained her daughter
Srinidhi Raghavan, who, in her own right, is an acclaimed
dancer giving performances in dance festivals in India and
abroad.
A
creative artist she is, Usha gives workshops, lecture demonstrations
and performances in addition to master classes in London where
she currently lives.
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