For Pragnya Yogesh, dance has never been just movement. It’s storytelling. It’s heritage. It’s a bridge between people.

When Pragnya was just two and a half years old in India, her parents recognized her passion and encouraged her with rigorous classical training. From the start, Bharatanatyam and Kuchipudi weren’t just performances — they were a way of preserving and sharing India’s cultural stories.

When she moved to Iowa nearly two decades ago, she brought that commitment with her. She founded Eshanjali Dance Academy in Des Moines, where more than 75 students now study Bharatanatyam, Kuchipudi, folk dances, and Bollywood styles. Her teaching goes beyond the steps — each movement is taught with its history, meaning, and emotional depth.

“Dance has been my way of telling stories. I’ve always been able to say them better in movement than in words. It’s where I feel most connected — and where people feel most connected to me.”

As a longtime CultureALL Ambassador, Pragnya shares her art across Iowa — in schools, workplaces, and community spaces — helping audiences see that cultural understanding is the foundation for empathy and belonging.

Her own children carry that mission forward, blending Indian and American influences in the arts, speaking Kannada at home, and embracing their heritage while building new identities.

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Pragnya at the CultureALL BALL

On September 20, Pragnya and the Eshanjali ensemble will light up the stage at the CultureALL BALL with performances that weave together India’s classical, folk, and Bollywood traditions. Expect vibrant costumes, intricate jewelry, and the kind of expressive storytelling that invites you into a whole other world.

They’ll also appear at the World Food & Music Festival in August — proof that for Pragnya, every stage is a space for cultural exchange.

Through her artistry, Pragnya builds bridges that connect people across backgrounds. Her work is a reminder that when we share our traditions, we strengthen our community — one story, one step, one dance at a time.

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Be part of her story on the dance floor: events.humanitix.com/cultureall-ball