Our Team
Aishwarya Hegde
Artistic Director
Aishwarya Hegde is the Artistic Director of Deepam Odissi Academy, a thriving cultural institution in Oman dedicated to nurturing Odissi dance and creating a collaborative space for artists across disciplines. More than just a dance school, Deepam has grown under her leadership into a vibrant home for the arts—bringing together dancers, musicians, and art lovers in a shared celebration of creativity, heritage, and personal expression.
Aishwarya’s journey with Odissi began at the age of seven in Muscat under the guidance of her Guru, Shri Deepak Roy. What started as a childhood passion soon transformed into a lifelong calling. With unwavering dedication, she pursued advanced training under some of the most revered names in the Odissi world, including Smt Sujata Mohapatra, Guru Uday Shetty (Nrityagram), and Smt Arushi Mudgal. Rooted in the Guru Kelucharan Mohapatra Gharana, Aishwarya’s dance is marked by precision, depth, and an emotive quality that resonates across cultures.
Over the years, her performances have earned her critical acclaim and titles such as Laasya Bharathi, Natya Saradhi, and Natyasri. She made history as the first Indian classical artist to perform at the National Museum of Oman during the unveiling of the rare manuscript Anis-Al-Hujjaj. A standout moment in her artistic journey was her collaboration with the all-Omani band 'Scales' to reinterpret Vande Mataram, blending Odissi with traditional Omani music—a performance that received appreciation from the Honourable Prime Minister of India, Shri Narendra Modi
Aishwarya has taken Odissi to international stages, most notably with her troupe’s performance at the 60th World Dance Congress at the iconic Dora Stratou Theater in Athens, Greece. In 2025, she was invited as a cultural panelist at the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas convention, representing Indian classical dance and its role in preserving identity among diaspora communities. These milestones reflect her commitment to sharing the richness of Indian heritage with the world, while making it accessible and relevant to contemporary audiences.
At the heart of Aishwarya’s work is a belief that dance is not just performance—it is purpose, passion, and peace. Through Deepam, she envisions a space where anyone—regardless of age, background, or gender—can find a sense of belonging, creative expression, and personal growth. Her choreographies reflect a deep understanding of Natya Shastra and Abhinaya, using movement to tell stories that are timeless, yet strikingly relevant.
Under her guidance, Deepam Odissi Academy has expanded into a holistic arts platform. From producing shows that integrate dance with animation and Indian folk art (Roopantar – A Metamorphosis of Art) to creating interactive tools like the Deepam Dance Journal and merchandise such as the Deepam Chanderi Dupatta, Aishwarya continues to innovate while staying rooted in tradition.
She also conducts lecture demonstrations to raise awareness and spark curiosity about classical Indian dance, often bridging cultural divides through dialogue and performance. Her leadership is shaping Deepam into a community-driven space where tradition evolves, creativity thrives, and every dancer can discover their unique voice.
Aishwarya Hegde’s journey from devoted student to performer, educator, and cultural ambassador stands as a testament to what can unfold when discipline meets vision, and tradition is carried forward with love and responsibility.
Varsha began her dance journey at the young age of three under the guidance of Smt. Srikala Murali. Under her tutelage, she trained in the Indian Classical dance forms of Bharatanatyam, Kuchipudi and Mohiniyattam. Throughout her childhood & adolescence, she has been extensively performing and competing at various prestigious stages. Some of her notable achievements include her representing India at the global event of Dance Muscat Dance.
After mastering the classical dances of the south, she ventured into the East Indian dance form of Odissi, after her talent was recognized by her guru, Guru Deepak Roy. Varsha has had the opportunity to showcase her passion and love for Odissi at various prestigious stages around the world like ‘Bharat Nrityotsava’ held in Visakhapatnam by the UNESCO certified Natraj Music and Dance Academy where her talents were recognized and was awarded the ‘Natya Saradhi Yuva Puraskar’ title for her performance. She also holds the title of ‘Laasya Bharathi’ at the ‘Laasyotsava Festival’ held in Hong Kong.
Varsha Rathi
Principal Dancer & Trainer
With her comprehensive knowledge on the classical dances of India, today, she is a well-recognized dancer in Oman, using her passion for dance as a tool to unite and educate people on the rich history and beauty of Indian Classical dance by conducting lecture demonstrations in Oman. She has also taken on the role of Dance Instructor at Deepam Odissi Academy, started by her guru Smt. Aishwarya Hegde in Muscat, Oman where she has had the opportunity to cultivate this art form in young upcoming artists and advocate on the importance of dance on physical and mental health.
Shreya Chatterjee Coordinator
Shreya began her Odissi dance journey in 2015 with Guru Deepak Roy. Dance classes gave her something new to learn and the challenge of attaining something new was made simpler in Guru Deepak Roy’s classes - which was a big encouragement to her.
An advertising professional otherwise, Odissi gave her the chance to break away from a hectic work-life. And even though her journey as a dancer is currently on hold, being the Coordinator keeps her journey with Deepam going which has always felt like her home.
Tamoghna trained in Odissi under Guru Deepak Roy from the young age of 5 until she left for university in 2018. She performed on many platforms including two solo shows in Bangladesh and was awarded the prestigious ‘Yuva Naatyasri’ award by the Natraj Academy for her performance at the Vyshaki Dance Festival in 2015.
She is an alumna of New York University Abu Dhabi where she pursued Film and New Media. She works with poetry and the moving image to create poetic narratives that reflect on deeply personal topics of identity, mental health, abuse and trauma. Her found footage film about sexual abuse within ‘ safe spaces’, 'Uprooted', was an official selection at the Rome Prisma Awards Film Festival in 2020 and she has written a poetry anthology titled 'Anchored Astronauts' which was published in 2017.
Tamoghna Dey
Brand Strategist
Tamoghna has always felt that her dance training has manifested itself in her work in film and the arts and has pursued her passion for Odissi in a different form. Now, she is working behind the scenes as a Brand Strategist at Deepam and applies her technical knowledge of film and media production to enhance Deepam’s performances and events.