Arpita Banerjee

🪔 About

Arpita Banerjee is a distinguished Indian Kathak dancer, choreographer, and teacher, celebrated for her innovative approach and profound emotional depth in performances. Her journey in Kathak began at the tender age of five, receiving initial training from Nritya Shiromani Guru Bandana Sen, who imparted the nuances of both the Lucknow and Jaipur Gharanas. Further enriching her artistic foundation, Banerjee trained under the legendary Pandit Birju Maharaj Ji for five years. She continued her rigorous training under Shri K Murali Mohan and Nandini K Mehta at NADAM in Bangalore, and also participated in workshops with renowned Kathak exponents such as Sri Maulik Shah, Smt Ishira Parikh, and Rani Khanam Jee. Academically, Arpita Banerjee holds impressive credentials, including Visharad BA, Alankar MA, and Shiksha Visharad B.Ed. in Kathak from the Akhil Bharatiya Gandharva Mahavidyalaya, Maharashtra. Despite pursuing a graduation in microbiology from Bangalore University in 2005, she ultimately chose to dedicate her life to classical dance, a decision supported by her family. As an empanelled solo Kathak Dancer under the Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR), Government of India, Banerjee has graced international stages across the USA, Canada, Cambodia, Thailand, Vietnam, and Mauritius. Her creative productions include "Hansini," a unique fusion of Indian Kathak with ballet, set to Tchaikovsky's Swan Lake, and "Kathak & Ghazal Night," which aimed to revive traditional baithak-style ghazal and Mughlia Kathak. She is associated with Nupur Dance Academy in Kolkata since 1991 and NADAM in Bangalore since 2007, and has founded and leads Anaadya Performing Arts and Thaat Kathak Academy. Awards & Honours: Jawaharlal Nehru Scholarship (1997), Jawaharlal Nehru Scholarship (1998), Jawaharlal Nehru Scholarship (1999), 1st Prize, Talent Hunt (1999), 1st Prize, All West Bengal Kathak Dance Competition (1995), 2nd Prize, Jawaharlal Nehru Talent Hunt (2000), 1st Prize, Jnyadodaya Talent Hunt (2001), 1st Prize, Inter-collegiate Fest Dance Competition (Classical Dance Segment) (2002), 1st Prize, Inter-collegiate Fest Dance Competition (Classical Dance Segment) (2003), 1st Prize, Inter-collegiate Fest Dance Competition (Classical Dance Segment) (2004), 3rd Prize, Inter-collegiate Fest Dance Competition (Classical Dance Segment) (2004), 2nd Prize, All India Talent Hunt (2008), Nritya Shiromani.