Gauri Divakar

🪔 About

Gauri Divakar, born on December 9, 1978, in Tatanagar, Jharkhand, is an acclaimed Kathak dancer and choreographer based in New Delhi, India. Her initial training in Kathak began under Smita Chaudhary at the Sangeet Samaj, Jamshedpur. She furthered her advanced training at the Kathak Kendra, New Delhi, through a scholarship from 1996 to 2001, under the guidance of eminent gurus Jaikishan Maharaj and Birju Maharaj. After graduating with distinction from Kathak Kendra, Divakar honed her skills under the renowned Kathak exponent Aditi Mangaldas, later joining the Drishtikon Dance Foundation where she is a lead performer and the seniormost member of its repertory. Divakar is celebrated for her artistry, which seamlessly blends the timeless grammar of Kathak with contemporary themes, creating performances that resonate with tradition yet speak to the present. Her talent has been noted in performances both as a soloist and in group compositions at various national and international festivals, including the Kathak Mahotsav, Konark Festival, and Edinburgh Fringe Festival. She has toured extensively, performing in countries such as Belgium, Spain, the UK, and Germany. As a choreographer, Gauri Divakar has created significant productions like "Hari Ho….Gati Meri (Let my Salvation be in You)," "Samratri - The Night of Divine Union," "Dancing Emptiness," and "Mugdha - Celebration of Beauty & Womanhood." Her expertise has also been appreciated in theatrical adaptations such as "Mughal-E-Azam." Beyond performing, Divakar is dedicated to teaching and preserving the Kathak tradition. She founded her own trust, "Gauri Diwakar Sanskriti Foundation- Sarvatra Nrityam," through which she trains young students. She also serves as a Kathak Guru at Kathak Kendra and is part of the teaching team for the Akram Khan Company's Intensive Program, imparting Kathak technique to international students. Since 2008, she has conducted workshops and lecture-demonstrations for SPIC MACAY. Awards & Honours: Shringar Mani award (2002), Ustad Bismillah Khan Yuva Puraskar by Sangeet Natak Akademi (2008), Jaydev Pratibha Puraskar (2015), Senior Fellowship by Kalavaahini Trust, Chennai (2019), Amaltas Kala Samman (2023), Purnima Smriti Yuva Gathantar Samman (2024), Scholarship from Kathak Kendra, Sangeet Praveen from Prayag Sangeet Samiti, Allahabad.