My name is Jyotsna B Rao
Jyotsna Rao is an actor, dancer, choreographer, director and yoga coach from India, who is known for creative exploration in her works and has carved a niche for herself as a versatile performer in the span of 17 years. She is a recipient of 3 Scholarships and holds a Diploma degree in movement arts from Attakkalari, a Post Graduate in Psychology and a certified yoga and meditation Instructor from a yoga alliance recognised institute. Her training in movement started at a very young age in gymnastics, athletics and also theatre. She has explored many roles in the field of Dance and Theatre. Having won many awards in acting, theatre and dance.
Rao is one of the finest performers in India who has performed extensively across Germany, Sweden, the UK, South Korea, Muscat, Australia, Thailand, China, Dubai and India in more than 50 international festivals.
Rao is a natural and talented actress who has been critically acclaimed for her works in the past, including her cameo dance performance in the feature film ‘Oonga’ directed by Devashish Makhija, which was showcased at the Cannes International festival, Toronto festival and New York Film festival. The films in which Jyotsna has performed are Premism, Uttama Villain and 3Devi.
She has designed and conducted many workshops, such as 'Summer Xpress' at Ranga Shankara, Master Class at Let's Dance International festival in Leicester, Alchemy Festival in London and Shaisya Kids in Ahmedabad. She has been invited to work as a movement director to work in a theatre lab with Indian Ensemble and a play named ‘Dweepa’ by Ranga Shankara, 'Horatu Ulidavanu' by Antaranga, and a two-day workshop on Intimacy coordination for Illuminating Windows.
Rao’s solo journey began when she was invited to showcase her work
‘Soma diary’ at the young Choreographer’s laboratory in Bangalore, Goteborg, Sweden, and Kochi. The dynamism in her body of work is revealed through her collaborations with visual artist Nicole Dufour, where she created a solo called ‘Labyrinthe’ at Pondicherry, HATA, a photo-story series with Photographer Miles Trevelyan- Johnson, Bayalu Pradarshana with Dance-writer/ dancer Ranjana Dave, Mush for Citizens of Stage Co Lab, 'Body Work' Rehearsal director and Artist, SPIDER SOLO- Choreographer and Performer at FoCoCo residency and PECDA, Chennai. Super Natural- a multi-disciplinary art exhibition, also her maiden solo exhibition as an artist. As a Repertory member, she has collaborated and performed with artists from Spain, the UK, and Portugal at the Brouhaha International street festival, IBSA Summit by ICCR at Rashtrapathi Bhavan, and has enthralled dignitaries, including Man Mohan Singh, Pratibha Patil, Chidambaram, the Consulate and cultural ambassadors of China, the BRICS conference held at Jaipur and Goa, respectively.
Her performance in a lead role in the film 3Devi won her a nomination at the New Jersey Film Awards, 2022. The movie has been in the news and has received many International awards.
As the artistic director of Unicorn Performing Arts, she has directed and written two plays titled 'Sangya 2 Sophia' and 'Kyun Queer?' in 2024.
Sangya 2 Sophia- a crowd-funded play was performed to an intimate audience, and Kyun Queer? with mostly queer artists, produced by Gaysi Family, which was performed to a full house in Mumbai.
2025 saw the artist emerge as an author with her debut book, Eccentric Tales. She is also a published poet and writer.
She continues to work and collaborate as an actor, director, and choreographer.
She can be contacted at unicornperformingarts2023@gmail.com for collaborations.
CV below.
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