Chandan Thakor

🪔 About

Shri Chandan Thakor is a prominent figure in Indian classical dance, particularly Bharatanatyam, known for his innovative approach and extensive contributions as a performer, teacher, and choreographer. He is the son and pupil of renowned Bharatanatyam guru Elakshi Thakore and Kathakali dancer Arun Thakore. Thakor has significantly evolved traditional Bharatanatyam by creatively incorporating Hindi, Gujarati, and Sanskrit mediums into his performances, transforming the dance form into a visual symphony. He is the Dance Director and Choreographer of Nrityabharti, a celebrated dance academy founded by his mother, Kalaguru Smt. Elakshiben Thakore, in 1960. Under his leadership, Nrityabharti Performing Arts has presented over 250 national and international performances of his compositions, with some sources indicating over 2000 performances of his 150 vibrant choreographies. His choreographic works include more than 25 significant group choreographies and dance ballets, drawing themes from Indian mythology and contemporary thoughts. Notable ballets include "Meghdootam," "Geeta Gobindam," "Shiv Nrutyanjali," "Siddhartha," and "Vaidehi Vanavas". Chandan Thakor is also the brainchild behind "The National Dance Festival" in Ahmedabad, which he has successfully organized annually since 2000, providing a platform for budding and renowned artists. He has trained over 22,000 students, with approximately 500 having performed their Arangetram, and many achieving National Scholarships from the Government of India and Master's Degrees in classical dance. He also conducts classical dance workshops internationally in countries like Austria and China since 2008. Awards & Honours: Singarmani, Kalagurjari, Gujarat Yuva Pratibha Sanman, Nrityakala Prachar Ratna, Senior Cultural Scholarship (1996).