Usha is a post-graduate in Indian Philosophy from the Madras University. She mastered the art of Bharatanatyam under eminent gurus Sri. Adyar K. Lakshman & Smt. Kalanidhi Narayanan. Since her arangetram in 1969, she has performed extensively in different parts of India including the prestigious December Festivals in Chennai. In 1972, Kalasagara, an academy of fine arts, was founded by her mother, Smt. Radhamani in then, Madras.
Usha has been teaching Bharatanatyam since its founding along with her sister, Smt. Malathy Thothadri, Director of Kalasagara. She has been training scores of students in the last few decades. Choreographing dance dramas has also been Usha's many interests in the field of dance.

Various cultural centres in Europe have invited Usha Raghavan every year since 1980 as visiting professor for teaching and performing Bharatanatyam. ‘Centre Mandapa’, the premier institution for promotion of Indian arts in Paris, France invited Usha for eight months in 1980 as their residence teacher and to give workshops and performances all over France. In 1981, Teatro Tascabile Di Bergamo, Italy, the internationally acclaimed premier theatre group specialising in Indian art forms, invited her. It was then Usha exposed to the beautiful world of contemporary theatre while teaching Bharatanatyam to the actors.

Ever since she has toured every year extensively in France, Switzerland, Italy, Germany and the United Kingdom giving workshops, lecture demonstrations and performances. The Indian Council for Cultural Relations sponsored her dance tour of France. 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.

Usha was also invited to perform for the UNESCO, Paris, twice. The two part documentary film on Bharatanatyam by her 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 Theatre 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 have 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.