Address -
                  Colony- 52, Maharat Khan Road
                   Near Tilak Bridge, ITO
                  City-Delhi
                  
                  (011)23222134 / 23237711 / 9213152790


Dance style: Rajasthani Folk - Bhavai, Teratali, Ghumar, Kachghodi, Cheri
Guru: Late Shri Ganpat Lal Dangi from Jaipur and Late Meena Chaudhari

When did you start?

I started when I was 7 to 8 years old. My parents were also dancers so they always encouraged me to dance. I started learning Rajasthani Folk dance in Jaipur under Shri Ganpat Lal and Meena Chaudhary who are no more. I also learnt Kathak in Udaipur from Shri Badri Prasad. I joined Kaushal Bhargavjis troupe where I picked up Gujrati Folk Dances as well. I learnt a lot when I was in his troupe.

Where all have you performed?

I have performed all over the country. I recently went to Japan. I have also performed at the World Gypsy Festival in Germany in 1993, Dubai Shopping Festival in 1995 and 2001.

State of folk dance in Delhi.

It is not as popular as the classical dance forms and people in Delhi are not very interested in learning it. I take regular workshops at the Nothern Cultural Society and most of my students there are foreign or from other states like Manipur, Bengal and Assam.

Where all have you taken workshops?

I regularly teach at Kala Varnam which is my institute and I have taken numerous workshops. The ones which have been for a long duration are at Solpur, Illahbad; Iskon Fertilizers at Gurgaon where I still teach Madia of Madhya Pradesh and Bamboo dance of Assam, I have also taught at the Kalakar Trust.

Other than Workshops, we make our own props and I also do the costumes. Also I am the only female dancer in the whole country who does Bhavai with Peetal Ghadas (Brass pots) which is very heavy, others use the normal Metal Ghadas

Reaction of Audiences.

Whenever we have performed abroad we received a standing ovation. People there appreciate your talent and they repect the Kalakars. In Germany I remember we danced to an audience of five thousand people and they just didn't stop clapping. Here our audience is very casual, they have no sense of time and most of them they don't even care what is happening on stage.

About Kala Varnam

It is a centre for art and culture, we have a branch in France called Kala Sangam which is handled by my daughter who also dances. We are a non profit Organisation, till today we haven't taken any grants. Our aim is not making money, I teach most of my students and poor children for free as I feel atleast they are not on the roads begging or get involved in undesirable things.

If any further queries you can contact at
Kala Varnam Office
1897 1st floor, Uday Chand Marg,
Near D block South Extension part 1
New Delhi 110049
Phone: (011) 24655520
Email: kalavarnam@hotmail.com