Amruta Paranjape

🪔 About

Amruta Paranjape is an accomplished Kathak dancer, choreographer, and teacher based in Pune, India. She is the founder and artistic director of Abhivyakti School of Kathak. Paranjape received extensive training in Kathak as a senior disciple of Guru Shambhavi Dandekar. She also underwent advanced training in Laya-taal (rhythm) from Guru Taalyogi Pt. Suresh Talwalkar ji. Academically, she holds a bachelor's and a master's degree in Kathak from Lalit Kala Kendra, Pune University, and has also achieved the 'Nritya-Alankar' degree from Akhil Bharatiya Gandharva Mahavidyalaya Mandal. Amruta Paranjape is an empanelled artist with the Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR) and a Grade 'B' artist of Doordarshan. She is also empanelled as a Kathak Guru at the Centre for Performing Arts, Pune University, and Bharati Vidyapeeth Deemed University. Her performing career spans over two decades, with solo performances at prestigious classical dance festivals in India, including the Panchatatva Festival, and internationally in the USA (Michigan and California), UK (London), and Portugal (University of Evora). She is known for her choreographies, which blend traditional and contemporary themes. Paranjape founded her own Kathak institute, Abhivyakti School of Kathak, in 2010, after assisting her guru for several years. She has also designed the curriculum for Kathak classes at Spardha School of Music and Dance, an online platform. Awards & Honours: Golden Talent Award, Pandita Rohini Bhate Puraskar (2013), Pandit Vishnu Digambar Paluskar Award (2006), Sawai Gandharva Scholarship, First Prize (Senior Category) in National Kathak Contest (2009).