Gayatri Deka

🪔 About

Kalashree Gayatri Deka is a distinguished Bharatanatyam artist, teacher, and choreographer, recognized for her dedication to preserving and promoting Indian classical dance globally. Her journey in Bharatanatyam began in her formative years, marked by rigorous training under the tutelage of the late Padma Bhushan awardee Guru Dr. Saroja Vaidyanathan and Guru Anuradha Venkataraman. This intensive training instilled in her a deep appreciation for the art form's spiritual essence, encompassing technical excellence, philosophy, and storytelling. Gayatri Deka's Arangetram, her debut solo performance, took place in 2008, marking the commencement of her professional career. With over 23 years of dedicated training and 15 years of professional experience, she has graced numerous national and international stages. Her performances have taken her to cities across India, including Delhi, Chandigarh, Chennai, and Kolkata, as well as international venues in the USA, Europe, the Middle East, and Africa. Notable performances include the opening ceremony of the 19th Commonwealth Games in 2010, the World Cultural Festival by Sri Sri Ravi Shankar in 2016, and the Indo-American Friendship Meet in 2016. She also performed at the Farewell ceremony of former president Pranab Mukherjee in Rashtrapati Bhawan in 2017 and was part of a Refugee production for UNESCO in 2018. Beyond her performing career, Gayatri Deka is a dedicated educator. She served as a faculty member at Ganesa Natyalaya from 2011 to 2022, where she imparted her knowledge to aspiring dancers. In October 2021, driven by her passion for teaching and a vision to share Bharatanatyam's beauty, she founded Natyam School of Dance. This institution serves as a hub for traditional learning and innovative exploration, offering structured training for all levels, workshops, and masterclasses. Gayatri Deka is a Doordarshan-graded artist and holds double graduate degrees, one in Botany (Hons.) from Delhi University and another in Performing Art from Indira Kala Sangit Vishwavidyalaya, Khairagarh. Her contributions to Bharatanatyam have been recognized with awards such as the Kameshwari Nritya Samman (2018), Nritya Kanaka Mani Samman (2018), and Nritya Suvarna Kamal Samman (2019). She is based in Delhi, India. Awards & Honours: Kameshwari Nritya Samman (2018), Nritya Kanaka Mani Samman (2018), Nritya Suvarna Kamal Samman (2019).