Asa Willoughby began his Bharatanatyam journey under the guidance of Ananya Chatterjee in England and later continued his training with the distinguished guru Smt. Thankamani Kutty in Kolkata. He currently advances his practice under the mentorship of Marcia Madhavi Mai in Ann Arbor, Michigan, deepening both technical and expressive dimensions of the form.
Alongside Bharatanatyam, Asa has trained extensively in Kathak, studying primarily with Anuradha Chaturvedi of the Lucknow Gharana and further refining his practice with Sujata Banerjee in London. His work reflects a thoughtful engagement with the aesthetics, discipline, and storytelling traditions that define both classical dance forms.
In addition to his artistic pursuits, Asa is a PhD Candidate at the University of Michigan, where his academic research complements his deep commitment to classical performance. His work continues to contribute to the evolving dialogue between tradition, scholarship, and contemporary interpretation within Indian classical dance.
