Charan Girdhar Chand

🪔 About

Charan Girdhar Chand, a distinguished figure in Indian classical Kathak dance, was born on September 19, 1947, in Jaipur, Rajasthan, India. He inherited his passion for dance from his family, receiving his initial Kathak training from his father, Narayan Prasad, a renowned exponent of the Jaipur Gharana. He further honed his skills under the tutelage of Chiranji Lal and Mohan Lal. Beyond dance, Chand also developed proficiency in playing musical instruments such as the Harmonium, Tabla, Pakhawaj, and Naal, and is also an accomplished vocalist. He achieved academic excellence, earning a Masters degree in Kathak with distinction and a gold medal. Pandit Chand made his debut as a dancer at the tender age of 10 at the All India Music Conference in Baroda. His illustrious career has seen him perform extensively across the globe, including India, Paris, USA, UK, Guyana, Surinam, Barbados, Bangkok, and Mauritius. He has significantly contributed to the propagation of Kathak through numerous choreographic works and dance-drama productions like "Ghunghru," "Rango Bhari Sham ki Holi," "Amrapali," and "Bharat Darshan." He also produced and presented 13 episodes of "Let's Learn Kathak" for Mauritius National TV, demonstrating his commitment to dance education. A dedicated educator, Charan Girdhar Chand has trained many students and conducted numerous workshops and lecture demonstrations at national and international forums. He has also served as an Executive Member on various boards, including the ICC (Guyana), IGCIC (Mauritius), Rajasthan Sangeet Natak Akademi, and Kathak Kendra (Jaipur), offering valuable advice on dance promotion. While his academy, Pt Charan Girdhar Chand Kathak Academy, is based in Mumbai, he is also noted to be based in Singapore, continuing to perform, choreograph, sing, and compose, ensuring the legacy of Kathak endures for future generations. Awards & Honours: Singar Mani Award by Sur Singar Samsad (1970), Academy Award by Rajasthan Sangeet Natak Academy (1992), Lifetime Achievement Award by Harmony and Hearts, Singapore (2017), Biju Patnaik International Peace Award (2022), Naatyam Maalika Bharata Kala Acharya Ratnam by Naatyam Maalika, Singapore (2022), Sangeet Natak Akademi Amrit Award (2022).