Artist Bios

Ashraf Khan’s Group

Ashraf has selected the best Rajasthani folk artists from the  current 7th generation to represent Rajasthani Folk Music & Dance in America, This group has collectively performed all over India, France and Bangladesh. Due to his love for his father Aladin (First Bhapang player & Master Morchung player) he wishes to carry on the traditions he learned from his father to preserve the rich and authentic folk music of Rajasthan. His group was created with the criteria of merit, expertise and 7th generation. 

Ashraf Khan

Ashraf Khan hails from the Manganiyar hereditary musician families of the Thar Desert in Rajasthan, where he was raised in the folk singing tradition. Ashraf is renowned as a singer of both traditional Sufi compositions and modern playback hits, and his own songs integrate modern influences while remaining rooted in the folk tradition. He has appeared on Sony Entertainment Television and New Delhi Television (NDTV), and has been invited to perform at the Times of India Literary Carnival, the Jaipur Literature Festival, and the MTV India Music Summit. He has also shared the stage with folk luminaries including Padmashree Ustad Anwar Khan and Queen Harish, and with celebrated playback singers such as Rajnigandha Shekhawat and Swaroop Khan. Since 2020 he has been a member of Rais Khan Project where he has also used his talents in support of social causes, joining Dettol’s Campaign for a Healthy India to produce the country’s first music album promoting hygiene.

Rajak Khan

Rajak Khan is a prodigious international folk percussionist based in Rajasthan, performing on the Dholak, the traditional double-headed drum of Northwest India. An expert in the traditional folk music repertoire and in “Jugalbundi” ensemble playing, Rajak was raised in the oral musical tradition of Rajasthan combining Sufi, Hindi, and classical pieces. He has studied traditional, classical and western rhythms which permeate his playing. After becoming an in-demand player in Rajasthan, Rajak has been featured at the Todo Mundo World Music Festival in Serbia and the Ziro Festival of Music in Arunachal Province, India, and has appeared on New Delhi Television (NDTV).  He has also toured with the acclaimed “Barmer Boys” folk ensemble. Most recently he has worked with Rais Khan Project for their collaboration with Dettol’s “Folk Music for a Healthy India” campaign to produce India’s first album promoting hygiene, and is currently a touring member of the group. ​

Jasu Khan

Jasu Khan is a Dholak player from the Barmer District of Rajasthan, He has performed with national awardee Ustad Gazi Khan Barna,  Padma Shri Ustad Answar Khan Baiya, Bollywood singers: Swarovski Khan, Mame Khan and Kutle Khan. He has performed all over India at the Sufi Festivals in Jodhpur & Nagore, Riff Festival in Jodhpur, Harvari Festival in Kolkata. Haldighati Yuva Mahotsav Raj Samand, Hita Mukesh Amani and the Desert Festival in Jaisalmer. Cultural Center in Mumbai and the Camel Festival in Bikaner. He has worked with UNESCO and India Tour. 

He has accompanied Katrina Ji during her online dance classes. He has filmed videos teaching the folk rhythms for dance. He performed multiple seasons at Desert Springs Resort in Jaisalmer, Rajasthan. 

Pooja 

​My name is Pooja Sapera, Kalbeliya Folk International Dancer from Jodhpur Rajasthan.I belong to a gypsy community, like the Banjara people who had no permanent place to live. To earn their living, they used to go from door to door and catch snakes by playing the Been.And then after some time, there was a ban on catching snakes, after which he started making the girls of his house dance on the music of Been.Wearing black dress, they started calling it Kalbeliya Sapera Dance and this dance became the popular dance of our Rajasthan. Everyone in our house started doing these dances like my aunts and uncles etc. I started learning dance after watching them. My father also kept playing the Been, Dafli Manjira is a gypsy instrument and I have learned all this by watching him and my father is my guru.I had programmed a Holi festival in France in 2019 and in Italy I had programmed a festival in Bergamo city.Invited me to France again in 2023.I have also done programs with Bassant Group in France,Which is a very popular group in Europe.Our group welcomed our beloved Prime Minister in the musical Le Seine Musical in 2023.Also performed at Holi Festival in France in 2019.1 have also performed in many famous festivals of India like RIFF Festival, World sacred Sufi festival, or different cultural programs which are organized by tourism and ministry of culture.

Katrina Ji

Katrina Ji is the first foreigner to perform and master Bhawai dance outside of India. She has mastered most all of the Rajasthani folk dances: Ghoomar, Terah Taal, Chari, Kalbelia, Wheel Dance, Bhawai and more… As a member of the International Dance Council, CID - UNESCO, she offeres a certification program in Rajasthani Folk Dance. She started Rajasthani Caravan in 2014. She has appeared on TV and various magazines and newspapers worldwide. Asian Age, TV India, King 5 News. Seattle Refined and more. Plus she has performed in Rajasthan, India at the Desert Festival and as the star performer at Desert Springs Resort in Jaisalmer for 5 months. She has also opened for Bappi Lehari at the Cotton Bowl in Dallas, TX, NW Folklife Festival in Seattle, Culture Fest in Louisiana and more! She was also selected by a panel of judges on 4Culture’s Touring Artist Roster. 

In addition to her accomplishments in Rajasthani Dance, she also holds several certifications in dance: Learn Bhangra (R) Instructor, FCBD (R) Style Bellydance Instrutor and Ingresso Flamenco by the Spanish Dance Society. She has also studied Bollywood dance with several celebrity choreographers, including Saroj Khan (“You are a graceful dancer” and Queen Harish (“You are the daughter of Rajasthan”)

She has received awards from both RANA (Rajasthani’s of North America) and ARA (American Rajasthani Association) for her commitment and outstanding work in preserving and promoting Rajasthani Folk Arts. 

To learn more about Katrina Ji and how she became interested in Rajasthani Dance, please visit her Http://www.KatrinaJi.com