Dancer • Choreographer • Instructor

Jothika Gorur

Jothika Gorur is an Indian classical dancer, choreographer, and instructor based out of Pittsburgh (PA) and Minneapolis/St.Paul (MN). Primarily trained in the South Indian form of Bharatanatyam, her foundation is attributed to Smt. Shobhitha Ravi (Natyakriya), under whom she completed her Arangetram (solo debut) in 2017. As of 2024, Jothika trains under the direction of award-winning choreographers, Ranee and Aparna Ramaswamy (Ragamala Dance Company). She recently completed her first touring season with the company performing at several venues including the Northrop (MN), The Joyce Theater (NY), Harris Theater Chicago (IL), and the Coppell Arts Center (TX).

As a soloist, Jothika's artistry has been showcased within the United States, and international programs in Bangalore (India) and Athens (Greece). She has competed and won several honors including 1st place at the Cleveland Thyagaraja Aradhana, Hindu Dharma Arts, and the Raga-Rhythm Dance Competition among others.During her undergraduate years, Jothika served as captain and later on, advisor for Nrityamala, Pittsburgh's award-winning collegiate classical dance team. As a leader, she co-founded NRITYAPRIYA, a virtual benefit showcase that raised $2,760 for the Birmingham Free Clinic. Additionally, Jothika served as an executive board member for Dhirana, Pittsburgh's annual intercollegiate classical dance competition. Since graduating, she has had the honor of judging several collegiate competitions including Dhirana, TAAZA, and Nakshatra.As a guest artist, Jothika has contributed to "Vilaya: The Confluence," a distinguished Indian classical dance festival hosted by Nandanik Dance Troupe. She performed at the 'Joyland' film screening at Carnegie Mellon University and her choreography has been featured in the Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre 'Open Air Series' and Silambam Houston's 'YUVA Residency Festival.' Her solo work 'Kaikeyi Atma Sambhasan,' produced as part of 'AVIKATHITHA,' a collaborative presentation, was praised by The New York Times bestselling author of KAIKEYI and GODDESS OF THE RIVER, Vaishnavi Patel as a "mind blowing experience." In addition to choreography, her personal teaching credits include Desi Dance Convention, AATMA Performing Arts, Dance Conservatory of Pittsburgh, and Origins Championship, among others.Jothika's current work blends Indian classical dance with non-traditional elements -- exploring both innovation, and identity. She is also engaged in a long-term, research-based project that centers the experiences of South Asian creatives in the United States, examining how their careers are shaped within the broader cultural landscape. She is deeply thankful for the continued support of her Gurus, family, friends, and mentors as she pursues the next chapter of her artistic career.

  • HIGHLIGHTS OF JOTHIKA GORUR (** - mentioned multiple times)

  • TRAINING HISTORY:

  • - [Company Dancer] - Ragamala Dance Company (Aug. 2024-Present)

  • - [Student] - Natyakriya (Oct. 2008-Present) --not actively training

  • - [Workshop Attendee] - Smt. Rama Vaidyanathan (2024)

  • - [Workshop Attendee] - "Nritya Ratnakara" Smt. Srekala Bharath (2024)

  • - [Workshop Attendee] - Ranee & Aparna Ramaswamy (2024)

  • - [Workshop Attendee] - "Padma Bhushan" Dr. Saroja Vaidyanathan (2021)

  • - [Workshop Attendee] - Smt. Aswathy Nair & N. Srikanth (2018)

  • - [Workshop Attendee] - Smt. Manasvini Ramachandran (2017)

  • AWARDS & ACCOLADES

  • - [1st Place] - Cleveland Thyagaraja Aradhana Senior Varnam Category (Apr. 2023)

  • - [2nd Place] - Cleveland Thyagaraja Aradhana Senior Keerthanam Category (Apr. 2023)

  • - [Finalist] - New Jersey Natya Sangamam Natyanjali Senior Category (Mar. 2023)

  • - [1st Place] - Raga-Rhythm Senior Category (Dec. 2020)

  • - [1st Place] - Hindu Dharma Arts Competition (Nov. 2020)

  • - [Top 12] - Origins National Collegiate Championship (Apr. 2020)

  • - [Nrityamala Captain] SPIFPA Award Recipient (Oct. 2019)

  • - [1st Place] - Cleveland Thyagaraja Aradhana Junior Varnam Category (Apr. 2019)

  • - [Special Mention] - Cleveland Thyagaraja Aradhana Junior Keerthanam Category (Apr. 2019)

  • - [1st Place & Viewer's Choice] - Tu Bhi Nachle Collegiate Competition (Mar. 2019)

  • - [2nd Place] - Cleveland Thyagaraja Aradhana Junior Keerthanam Category (Apr. 2018)

  • - [Finalist] - New Jersey Natya Sangamam Natyanjali Senior Category (Feb. 2018)

  • TEACHING & CHOREOGRAPHY

  • - [Instructor] - Ragamala Training Center (Starting Sept. 2025)

  • - [Guest Instructor] - AATMA Performing Arts --Morganville/Monroe, NJ (Jan. 2024 & Jul. 2024)

  • - [Guest Instructor] - Origins Championships Collaboration --Pittsburgh, PA (Apr. 2024)

  • - [Guest Instructor] - Lua Dance Club --Pittsburgh, PA (Oct. 2023-Jan 2024)

  • - [**Choreographer ] - NACHMO --Pittsburgh, PA (Feb. 2023 & Feb. 2024)

  • - [Guest Instructor] - Attack Theatre --Pittsburgh, PA (Jan. 2024)

  • - [Choreographer] - Dhirana Gala --Pittsburgh, PA (Nov. 2023)

  • - [Guest Instructor] - Dance Conservatory Pittsburgh (Oct. 2023)

  • - [**Choreographer] - AVIKATHITHA --Houston, TX (Sept. 2023)

  • - [Guest Instructor] - Desi Dance Convention --Philadelphia, PA (Jul. 2023)

  • - [Teaching Artist] - Attack Theatre B.O.O.S.T. Program --Pittsburgh, PA (Jul. 2023)

  • - [**Choreographer] - NRITHYANJALI --Pittsburgh, PA (Jun. 2023)

  • - [Assistant Dance Instructor] - Natyakriya --Pittsburgh, PA (Jul. 2017-May 2023)

  • - [**Guest Choreographer] - Vilaya: The Confluence --Pittsburgh, PA (Apr. 2023)

  • NOTABLE SOLO PERFORMANCES

  • - [Cranfest] --Pittsburgh, PA (Apr. 2025)

  • - [World Indian Dance Festival] - Dora Stratou Dance Theatre --Athens, Greece (Jul. 2024)

  • - [Global Food & Dance Festival] - CCAC Allegheny Campus --Pittsburgh, PA (Apr. 2024)

  • - [Margam] - Seva Sadan Auditorium --Bangalore, India (Dec. 2023)

  • - [Annamacharya Aradhana] - SV Temple --Pittsburgh, PA (Aug. 2023 & Sept. 2019)

  • - [PearlWatch/Charrette] - KST Alloy Studios --Pittsburgh, PA (Mar. 2023)

  • - [Joyland Film Screening] - Carnegie Mellon University --Pittsburgh, PA (Mar. 2023)

  • - [**NACHMO] - Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre --Pittsburgh, PA (Mar. 2023)

  • - [Marghazhi in San Francisco] --Sunnyvale, CA (Jan. 2023)

  • - [PIT Performing Arts Series] --Pittsburgh, PA (Oct. 2022)

  • - [Kuchipudi - Premanjali] - The Vasu Gutti Performing Arts Stage Dedication Ceremony --Pittsburgh, PA (Sept. 2022)

  • - [VAH Ekta Gala] - Meenakshi Temple --Pearland, TX (Sept. 2022)

  • - [Private Event] --Cleveland, OH (Aug. 2022)

  • - [Three Rivers International Mela] --Pittsburgh, PA (Jul. 2018)

  • NOTABLE GROUP PERFORMANCES

  • - [Children of Dharma, Ragamala Dance Company] --US TOUR (Nov. 2024-Apr. 2025)

  • - [Around the World Dance Showcase] --Pittsburgh, PA (Jun. 2024)

  • - [Srekala Bharath's Margam Production] --Cleveland, OH & Ann Arbor, MI (Apr. 2024-May 2024)

  • - [Cranfest] --Pittsburgh, PA (Apr. 2024)

  • - [Maha Shivaratri Program] - Chinmaya Mission Amarnath --Pittsburgh, PA (Mar. 2024)

  • - [**AVIKATHITHA] - Silambam Houston's YUVA Festival --Houston, TX (Sept. 2023)

  • - [Maha Sudarshana Homam] - SV Temple --Pittsburgh, PA (Jul. 2023)

  • - [**NRITHYANJALI] - Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre's Open-Air Series --Pittsburgh, PA (Jun. 2023)

  • - [**Vilaya: The Confluence] --Pittsburgh, PA (Apr. 2023)

  • - [One World Festival] --Lancaster, PA (Sept. 2022)

  • - [Trimātā, Video Project] - (Apr. 2022)

  • - [Maha Kumbhabhishekam Program] - SV Temple --Pittsburgh, PA (Jun. 2021)

  • - [NRITYAPRIYA, Virtual Showcase] - (May 2021 & Apr. 2022)

  • - [India Day] - Cathedral of Learning --Pittsburgh, PA (Aug. 2012, 2013, 2016, 2018, 2019)

  • - [SPIFPA Program] --Pittsburgh, PA (Oct. 2019)

  • - [SRI VIDYA SHAKTI] --Pittsburgh, PA (Oct. 2018)

  • - [Sri Thyagaraja Aradhana] - SV Temple --Pittsburgh, PA (May 2017)

  • - [Sanskrit Dinam] - SV Temple --Pittsburgh, PA (Nov. 2017)

  • - [Sanskrit Dinam] - Hindu Jain Temple --Pittsburgh, PA (Nov. 2015)

  • ADMINISTRATIVE & JUDGING

  • - [Education & Engagement Coordinator] - Ragamala Dance Company (Jul. 2025-Present)

  • - [Legends Biting Panel] - Legends Dance Championship (Nov. 2024-Apr. 2025)

  • - [Judge] - Nakshatra Classical Collegiate Competition --Madison, WI (Mar. 2025)

  • - [Studio Assistant] - Lua Dance Club Studio (Feb. 2023-Feb.2025)

  • - [Judge] - TAAZA Bollywood Fusion Collegiate Competition --Pittsburgh, PA (Mar. 2024)

  • - [Virtual Guest Speaker] - Seton Hill University's World Dance Course (Jan. 2024)

  • - [SPIFPA Judge] - Dhirana Classical Collegiate Competition --Pittsburgh, PA (Apr. 2023)

  • - [Administrative Assistant] - AATMA Performing Arts (Jul. 2023-Sept 2024)

  • - [Client Relations Manager] - Rangeela Dance Company (Sept. 2022-Jul. 2023)

  • - [Administrative Assistant] - Shana Simmons Dance (May 2022-Feb. 2024)

  • - [Executive Board] - Dhirana Collegiate Dance Competiton --Pittsburgh, PA (Apr. 2021-Apr. 2022)

  • - [Executive Board] - Nrityamala Collegiate Dance Team (Apr. 2019-Apr. 2022)

  • AUDIENCE TESTIMONIALS & REVIEWS

  • “Jothika’s dances were stunning, with her fluid movements and beautifully expressive face clearly portraying the character’s feelings and intent, while her body easily shifted through complicated rhythms and balances.” --Anita Samuel (India Herald) - Houston, TX

  • “@jothikagorur brings so much expression to her performance. It was a treat to see stories expressed in movement.” --PIT Performance Arts Program (@pit-airport-art) - Pittsburgh, PA

  • "Jothika really embodies a goddess in her performance. Her precision is out of this world. She uses her face, an often forgotten prop in dancing, in an astonishing beautiful and surprising way...Just tears of joy watching a tremendously talented human being doing her thing."

  • --Audience Member, (PearlWatch/Charrette) - Pittsburgh PA

  • "In my wildest dreams I never thought I'd get to see a dance inspired by KAIKEYI

  • --but the incredibly talented @jothikagorur made it happen. As a former dancer myself, it was a mind blowing experience. In her interpretation, Rama returns to Ayodhya at the end of the story and touches Kaikeyi's feet, which had me sobbing. What a privilege!!"

  • --Vaishnavi Patel (@vaishnawrites), New York Times Bestselling author of KAIKEYI and

  • GODDESS OF THE RIVER

  • "In my eyes, one of the most technically strong Bharatanatyam artists of our generation in America. Her [Gorur's] precision of form is captivating and she really makes her craft look so effortless and luxurious." --Jeevika Bhat (@jeevika.bhat), NYC based Dancer/Choreographer

  • "A visual treat that also stimulated my mind." --Vinita Radhakrishnan (Narthaki.com - Bangalore, India) - Review of AVIKATHITA

  • Full Review of AVIKATHITA

  • https://narthaki.com/info/rev23/rev2995a.html

  • --Vinita Radhakrishnan, (Narthaki.com - Bangalore, India)