Arts On Tour

The Arts on Tour roster lists a broad spectrum of Arkansas’s finest solo and ensemble performers, individual visual artists and prepared art exhibitions ready for touring within Arkansas. The online AOT listing facilitates the booking process for arts organizations, festival and event planners, schools, civic organizations and government entities interested in contracting with the artists.

The AOT program is designed to reimburse presenters who showcase Arkansas artists listed on the roster. When an AOT artist negotiates a contract with the presenter, the Arkansas Arts Council typically will subsidize 40 percent of the cost of the event as long as funds are available.

New AOT artists are selected each year through a panel process. 

Apply For The Arts On Tour Artist Roster

Applications to join the roster are closed until fall 2025.

To be eligible for the Arts on Tour Program, a performing or visual artist must: 

  • Maintain a primary residency in Arkansas, or must have an Arkansas based contact.
  • Have presented concerts, exhibitions, programs or lecture-demonstrations in locations away from their home location at least twice in the previous year. Exhibitions must have been presented in a formal gallery space.

The Arkansas Arts Council reserves the right to determine the appropriateness of the scope or nature of the presentation proposed by a selected Arts on Tour artist and retains the right to determine the suitability of an AOT artist to remain on the roster once they have been selected.

Arts on Tour Artist Roster application forms should be submitted online by completing the form linked below. You will receive an email confirmation when we have received your online submission.

 

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Megha P Rao
Tags
Dance Statewide
Arkansas Arts Council
Featured by
AAC
Location
Bentonville, Arkansas, 72713
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As an accomplished and dedicated artist of Bharatanatyam, a celebrated Indian classical dance form, Megha has over 20 years of experience both as a performer and as a teacher. She is a Graded Doordarshan Artist and currently serves as the Board of Directors of Downtown Bentonville Inc., Member of Advisory Committee for DWTN Media and Dance advisor for Ra-Ve Cultural Foundation.

In recognition of her contribution to the performing arts in Northwest Arkansas, she was recently awarded a grant by Artists 360, a program of Mid-America Arts Alliance, to support her Dance production – ‘Baala – tale of Kanha’

Since 1996 she has performed 1000+ dance performances across India and the US, some of them nationally significant events such as Nrityotsav-Mumbai, West Bengal Tourism Festival Calcutta, Pallavothsav Mysore, Navaraspur Utsav Bijapur, Hampi Utsav, India Fest – Little Rock, 21st TANA Conference -St louis, NAVIKA- Cincinnati, OH.

Over the past decade, Megha has captivated the hearts of audiences across the Central U.S at multiple venues. She has extended her creative journey in choreography combining many Indian dance forms. Uniquely conceptualized and choreographed productions like NAVARASA MARGAM, THE EXILED KING, ARDHANAREE and BAALA-TALE OF KANHA. She is currently collaborating with the Trike Theatre and Ra-Ve Cultural Foundation on "The Jungle Book", which will premiere at Walton Arts Center in March 2023.

As Artistic Director she currently runs the ‘Dhirana Academy of Classical Dance’ based in Bentonville Arkansas, training over a hundred students in the US every year in Bharatanatyam. She also works with school districts and other organizations to bring Bharatanatyam to the community.  Over the past five years, she has organized and produced ‘Pradarshana’ an Annual Fall Celebration, to encourage young talents. She has trained multiple students towards their Arangetram, a debut solo 2 hour performance often referred to as the ‘graduation’ of a dancer from student to performer. Her goal is to Bridge the gap between society and the classical art form by inspiring, educating and guiding budding talent. She often collaborates with like-minded artists across different genres of music and performing arts, expanding the vocabulary while staying true to the art form.

See more at:

https://youtu.be/A8goi9p5jTY

https://youtu.be/ucTIEo5QsNc

https://youtu.be/Px12kD1gqmM

Requirements

Stage specifications: Minimum size of stage should be 15’x20’ for recorded music. [Preferably Sprung, hard wood, Marley. No carpet and clutter free]. Prefer a plain backdrop. Stage should be made available at least an hour before the performance for a total duration of 45 mins for light rehearsal and sound check. There should be a green room for costume change and makeup.

Lighting specifications: Specify available lighting at venue

Audio Specification: Audio will be available in a pen drive and will be checked by Megha on the day of the performance. Two feedback speakers/monitors to be provided on stage.

Travel, Lodging & Food: To be provided by the organizers [Vegetarian food only]

Fee
$1,200 / 30 - 60 minutes -- Recorded Music/ Solo Performance. $7,500 -- Live Music - Four musicians and a performer.
Time Availability
Year round

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