About
About The Artist
Shruti is a disciple of Pandit Rajendra Gangani ji, the illustrious master and leading light of Jaipur gharana.
She began her dance journey in 1997 when she was 7 years old, enamored by the beauty, grace, and poise of Kathak. Through her formative years, her Gurus were the doyens of Benaras and Lucknow gharanas, Guru Pta. Maneesha Sathe and her daughter, Guru Shambhavi Dandekar. With their mentorship she earned Gandharva Mahavidyalaya’s Nritya Visharad (2009) and Nritya Alankar (2012) with an all India rank 1. Certain of her commitment to Kathak, she also pursued a master’s degree in performing arts from the Lalit Kala Kendra, University of Pune, and was awarded the Pandita Rohini Bhate Gold Medal (2014).
Shruti has performed on multiple stages and events all over India and has received many accolades and awards. Most recently, she was awarded the Kathak Navonmesh Nritya Sadhana Puraskar by Dr. Sujata Natu and Gaanvardhan in Pune (2019).
Achievements
- “Rabindra Puraskar” by the Upasana Foundation, Pune (2015)
- “Pt. Ranganath Bendre Award” for standing first All over India in the post graduate level NRITYA ALANKAR examination conducted by Akhil Bharatiya Gandharva Mahavidyalaya Mandal, Mumbai (2014)
- Third place in the West Zone Inter University Youth Festival, Shivaji University, Kolhapur (2013)
- First place at IIT Powai’s Cultural Festival MOOD INDIGO, event “Nrityangan”, National Level Solo Classical Dance Competition (2012)
- “Lt. Pt. Lachchu Maharaj Award” by the Prerna Foundation, Pune (2010)
What we do
The goal of SKILS is the holistic development of students into artistes and the best versions of themselves. Being a registered teacher of the Akhil Bharatiya Gandharva Mahavidyalaya, Mumbai, Shruti also trains her students for examinations conducted by them. Alongside dance, students are also taught the process of choreography, stage presence and performance skills.
Our mission through SKILS is to make Kathak more relatable and more accessible to today’s students and audience. SKILS’ annual programme Avant Garde is a step in that direction. It is a platform where students have the stage to dance and present everything they have learned to a mesmerized audience – with traditional kathak dances as well as choreographies to modern pieces relevant to recent times and social dynamic.