Anurekha Ghosh

🪔 About

Anurekha Ghosh is an internationally acclaimed and award-winning Indian Classical Kathak dancer, choreographer, and educator, known for her distinctive blend of tradition and modernity in her technique and style. Born in Kolkata, India, she began her Kathak training at the age of four and a half, specializing in the Lucknow Gharana under the tutelage of Smt. Meera Majumdar and Smt. Mousumi Sen in Calcutta. In 1992, she moved to the United Kingdom, where she continued her advanced training with Padmashree Guru Shri Pratap Pawar and received extensive guidance from the renowned Kathak exponent Begum Nahid Siddiqui from Pakistan. Ghosh has also received advanced 'talim' in rhythmic intricacies from Tabla exponent Pt. Dinanath Mishra of Benaras Gharana and Smt. Madhumita Roy, and in-depth guidance from Guru Smt. Durga Arya. Beyond Kathak, Anurekha Ghosh's diverse training includes Kalaripayattu (a South Indian martial art) at CVN Kalari in Kerala under Guruakkal C V Satyanarayanan, as well as Western Contemporary Dance, Ballet, and Yoga in the UK. She also trained in vocal music from Smt. Swagatalakshmi Dasgupta in Kolkata. She holds an MA in Choreography and Performing Arts from Middlesex University, UK. As a performer, Ghosh has graced major theatres and festivals worldwide, including the Royal Opera House, South Bank Centre, Edinburgh Fringe Festival, Madison Square Garden, and the Festival of FEZ. She is the founder and artistic director of Anurekha Ghosh and Company, established in January 2001, and Natmandir, an institution dedicated to propagating Indian culture through the traditional Gurukul system. Her company creates innovative classical and contemporary dance productions, often integrating movement, poetry, visuals, and diverse musical genres. Anurekha Ghosh is also a social activist, utilizing dance to address critical social issues. She has choreographed productions like “A Letter to the Mother from the Womb” against female feticide and “Voice of Femininity” for women's empowerment. She collaborates with NGOs, providing dance therapy to differently-abled children, trafficked girls, and cancer survivors, and has directed productions with trafficked girls from NIJOLOY Home. She divides her time between India and the West, teaching Kathak to aspiring students globally. Awards & Honours: BBC award, Arts & culture category, The Lisa Ullman Scholarship for Dance and Movement, Best choreographer for The Place Choreodrome, Nritya Shiromani, Naatyasaaradhi, Natya Damru, Tujhe Salaam (2014), Nritha Vilasini, Rex Karmaveer fellowship, Amravati award, Pandit Arjun Mishra award, Padmavati award, Kala Bhushan award, World Dance Day award (2014).