The Das Family Lineage Pandit Chitresh Das Ritesh Das Renowned Kathak dancer, Pandit Chitresh Das, and brother Ritesh Das were born in Kolkota, West Bengal to parents Nrityacharya Prohlad Das and Smt. Nilima Das. Their parents opened a music and dance academy, Nritya Bharati, the first of its kind in Kolkata, which allowed the sons immediate exposure to dance, music and tabla at young ages. The brothers grew up in the rich artistic environment of their parent’s dance and music school, Nritya Bharati, where they were continually surrounded by artists of all kinds including many of the great gurus. Ritesh Nritya Archarya Smt Nilima Das Das spent many long hours learning and Prohla d Da s practicing tabla under the guidance of many great mentors and musicians. Ritesh Das’ first tabla teacher, Pandit Shankar Ghosh Pandit Das at age nine performing with the great tabla The Das Family Dance and Music School, master Pandit Samta Nritya Bharati, in Kolkata, India Prasad. Seated in front is Chitreshji’s Guru, Pandit Ram Narayan Misra. Pandit Ram Na ra yan Misra The Das family school, Nritya Bharati in Kolkata, was the first government-recognized music and dance institution of independent India. This excellent teaching facility continues today under the guidance of Pandit Chitresh Das. Nritya Bharati was a regular destination of many great Indian classical music and dance icons. Nritya Bharati dance room: third from left is Chitreshji’s mother, Nilima Das, Pandit Das (age 9), to his right is the great Rukmini Devi Arundale. Front from left: Nanku Maharaj (Benares Gharana tabla master), Ramnath Misra (sarangi - Pandit Ramesh Misra’s father); Amala Shankar (wife of Uday Shankarji); Prahlad Das (Pandit Das’ father); Uday Shankarji (elder brother to Ravi Shankar); Pandit Das and Nazim Ali Khan. (c. 1970) Pandit Chitresh Das being presented an award Ustad Vilayat Khansahib’s mother. To her right is the great harmonium player Mantu Banerjee, to Chitreshji’s left are Daggarsahib and Sabir Khan. (1982) Performing with the Ali Akbar College Ritesh Das at age 22, on stage with his of Music’s New Maihar Band and guru, Pandit Swapan Chaudhuri. Zakir Hussain for PBS. (1972) An intense passion to spread art and knowledge beyond the borders of India, brought both brothers to the USA (Chitreshji in 1970 and Riteshji in 1979). Joanna de Souza began studying with Pt Chitresh Das in 1978, and lived in the Das family home in Kolkata India from 1985 to 1987. In early 1988 Riteshji and Joannaji moved to Canada and began their ongoing work together, in Toronto Ontario. Pt Chitresh Das, Joanna de Souza and Marni Ris, 1983. Photo credit: Ritesh Das Pt Chitresh Das’ Ritesh Das’ Guru Teachers & Guru Pt Ram Narayan Misra Pt Shankar Ghosh Pt Chitresh Das Ritesh Das Ustad Zakir Hussain Chhandam Dance Ensemble New York Chhandam School of Dance, Mumbai & Kolkata, India Chitresh Das Dance Companies: San Francisco, Los Angeles and Sacremento Pt Swapan Chaudhuri.