Welcome to North America Center for Sattriya Dance and Traditional Arts

We are dedicated to preserving, promoting, and propagating Sattriya dance and traditional arts throughout the United States. Join us in celebrating and sustaining the vibrant heritage of Sattriya dance and traditional arts.

Our Mission

Our mission is to preserve, promote, and propagate Sattriya dance, a 550 years old traditional dance form from Assam, India, while fostering a global community of dancers, researchers, speakers, and enthusiasts.

We aim to provide prestigious platforms for new generation Sattriya learners, support research and workshops, seminars, demonstrations, and facilitate cultural exchange between Sattriya artists and practitioners of other dance forms worldwide, promoting cross-cultural understanding and artistic innovation.

Our Performances

Explore a collection of our most memorable Sattriya dance performances and events.

Sattriya Dance

Sattriya dance is a major classical Story telling dance of India originating from the northeastern Indian state of Assam. Sattriya dance is the only living tradition found in India from 550 years till now. This 15th hundred century’s ancient dance form is deeply rooted in the Vaishnavite Tradition of the Monasteries ( Sattras) by the monks (Bhokots) and is known for its unique blend of Yogic, spiritual, cultural, and artistic expressions. Sattriya dance form was created as a part of Drama tradition “Ankia Bhaouna” 550 years back by Mahapurush Srimanta Sankardev, a revered Assamese saint, poet, and social reformer. Along with dance, Sankardev took fine arts such as ancient Manuscript painting, musk making, and drama as a part of tradition. It is believed to be one of the “World’s earliest” forms of one act plays and open air theatre.

Manuscript Painting

In Assam the word ‘manuscript’ is almost inextricably bound up with Sankaradeva and his Neo Vaisnavite Movement. The manuscripts were the vehicle for the transmission of the tenets and ideals of this cultural Movement and it was primarily due to Sankaradeva.

These polychrome paintings, popularly known as manuscript painting, done on sanchipat or tulapat, which also contained written descriptions, have certain independent characteristics of their own and are collectively grouped as The Assam School of Painting. Since it was the Satra institution of Sankaradeva which nurtured this school and played a considerable part in its growth, preservation and popularity, the Assam School may also be referred to as the Satriyā School of Painting.

Join us for International Sattriya & Cultural Meet!

We’re excited to announce the International Sattriya and Cultural Meet! Join us on May 22, 2026, in Dallas, Texas. Experience the best of Sattriya dance and culture.

Mentor

Uttar Kamalabari Sattra; Sangeet Natak Academy Awardee

Manoj Kumar Das

Mentor

Sangeet Natak Academy Yuva Awardee; National School of Drama, Delhi

Nerina Rabha

Founder & Board of Director

Founder and Director, Dashavatar Dance Academy, Texas

Founder and Director of North America Center for Sattriya Dance and Traditional arts

Nerina Rabha is a dedicated Sattriya practitioner and learner. She is a disciple of Guru Naren Chandra Baruah (recipient of the Sangeet Natak Academy’s Ustad Bismillah Khan Award) and Dr. Devika Borthakur (HOD, Department of Performing Arts, Bharati Vidyapeeth University). In 2019, Nerina founded Dashavatar Dance Academy to promote the dances of Northeast India in the USA. The academy has become the pioneering institutions in United States that trains students in Dallas, Houston, and Austin academically in Sattriya dance, in affiliation with Bharati Vidyapeeth University, Maharashtra, and Sangeet Sattra Pariksha Parishad (established 1968), Guwahati, Assam. Dashavatar Dance Academy is the only institution in Texas that offers academic degrees in Sattriya dance.

Nerina Rabha and her students conduct workshops, demonstrations, and performances in various prestigious events in Dallas, Houston.

Some notable performances:
1. Embassy of India, Washington DC – November 2024
2. Ministry of Culture India, Sangeet Natak Academy’s Sattriya Nritya Parva 2023
3. Waves Summit 2025, Nita Mukesh Ambani Cultural Centre, Mumbai
4. University of Texas at Dallas, Department of Performing Arts – 2024, 2025
5. IANT , India association of North Texas

6. Tezpur University and Bharati Vidyapeeth University Cultural Exchange Program – 2022
7. Sangeet Sattra Foundation Day, Assam – 2025

8. Asian Festival, Dallas, Texas

Appreciation:

1, Sahitya Sanskriti Sadhana Award 2025, by Assam Sahitya Sanskriti Sadhana Macha, Tezpur Assam

2. Legacy of Inspiration 2025 – A felicitation by Sangeet Sattra (est. 1968) , Guwahati Assam

Why Your Support Matters to Us..

Your contribution helps us preserve and promote the rich heritage of Sattriya dance. By supporting the North America Center for Sattriya Dance and Traditional Arts, you enable us to continue offering cultural performances, educational programs, and community engagement initiatives. Join us in sustaining this vibrant art form for future generations and fostering a deeper appreciation for cultural diversity.

Community Engagement

Volunteering your time and skills directly supports our events and outreach, fostering a stronger connection between the community and Sattriya dance.

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Educational Programs

Your donations help us provide workshops and classes, ensuring that Sattriya dance is accessible to all, regardless of their background or financial status.

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Cultural Preservation

Financial contributions directly support our performances and preservation efforts, ensuring that Sattriya dance continues to thrive and inspire for generations to come.

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