Gopal Prasad Dubey

🪔 About

Gopal Prasad Dubey (June 25, 1957 – November 14, 2022) was an acclaimed Indian classical dancer, choreographer, and guru, widely recognized as a leading exponent of the Seraikella style of Chhau dance, a martial and folk art form originating from eastern India. Born in Seraikella, Jharkhand, he began his training at the age of nine under his grandfather, Shashi Bhushan Dubey, an actor in the royal court of Seraikella. He received formal instruction from revered gurus including Natasekhar Banbihari Pattanayak, Padma Shri Kedar Nath Sahoo, and Padma Shri S. N. Singh Deo. He also undertook training in modern dance and choreography in New York with a grant from the Asian Cultural Council in 1986. Dubey's performing career began in local festivals, progressing to international stages by 1976 with a performance at a drama festival in Greece. He performed extensively across India and internationally through invitations from the Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR). He collaborated on cross-cultural productions, such as a Greek adaptation of Antigone in New York (1984) and Shakuntalam with Greek actors in Volos (1987). His choreography credits include Shyam Benegal's TV series Bharat Ek Khoj and Ramanand Sagar's Uttar Ramayan. In 1985, Dubey founded the Trinetra Chhau Dance Centre in Seraikella, Jharkhand, serving as its founder member and secretary. This institution became a vital hub for training in the Seraikella Chhau style, where he dedicated himself to teaching traditional techniques and fostering new generations of dancers. He also served as a faculty member for dance at Panjab University, Chandigarh, and conducted workshops and taught at prestigious international institutions including Harvard University, the University of London, and various centers in South Korea and the United States. His efforts significantly elevated the global visibility of Seraikella Chhau, blending its traditional masked narratives with contemporary expressions. He passed away in Seraikella, Jharkhand, at the age of 65. Awards & Honours: Sangeet Natak Akademi Award (2016), Padma Shri (2012), Jharkhand State Award (2007), Vocational Achievement Award from Rotary Club International, Suvarna Shankhu at Keli Chhau festival (2010), Natya Shri title from Nataraj Music Academy (2010), Golden Conch from Keli Foundation, Mumbai (2010), Senior Fellowship from Ministry of Culture, New Delhi (2011), Natya Tarang Puraskar from Nataraj Music Academy (2013), Natya Keerthi Shikha Puraskar from Sathyanjali Academy, Cochin (2013), Natya Veda Puraskar from Nataraj Music Academy (2014), Asian Cultural Council grant for modern dance studies in New York (1986), United States Information Service travel grant to attend “American Dance Festival” (1986), Spic Macay Scholarship (1987), Lifetime achievement award from CMSB New Delhi (2017).