Hemvati Shah

🪔 About

Hemvati Shah is an accomplished Indian classical dancer, performer, and teacher specializing in both Bharatanatyam and Kuchipudi dance styles. She commenced her dance training at the age of seven under Guru Smt. Smita Shastri at the Nartan School of Classical Dances in Gujarat, India. After completing her Arangetram in Bharatanatyam in 2005, she began performing with her Guru Smt. Smita Shastri and also taught dance at the same institute until 2011. Developing a keen interest in Kuchipudi, she furthered her training in this art form with Guru Smt. Smita Shastri, culminating in her Rangpravesham in Kuchipudi in 2014. Shah pursued formal education in dance, earning a BPA (Bachelors of Performing Arts) in Bharatanatyam from JG College of Performing Arts, Gujarat University, in 2012. She then completed her post-graduate studies, achieving an MPA (Masters of Performing Arts) in Bharatanatyam from Upasana School of Performing Arts in 2014. Additionally, she undertook one-year courses in Carnatic and Hindustani music in 2012 and 2013, respectively. Her professional career includes a significant tenure at the Darpana Academy of Performing Arts, where she worked as a professional performer. During this period, she traveled and performed globally with the Darpana performing group, rehearsing numerous productions under the guidance of the legendary Mrinalini Sarabhai and performing with Padma Bhushan Dr. Mallika Sarabhai. Her roles at Darpana extended to classical Indian dancer, folk dancer, actor, percussionist, and teacher. She also served as an assistant administrator at the academy from 2015 to 2017. More recently, Shah pursued a second Master's degree in Mentoring and Professional Leadership from Toi-Ohomai Institute of Technology in Rotorua, New Zealand, in 2020. Her thesis explored the practice of mentoring and leadership in teaching classical Indian dance to facilitate cultural integration and intercultural relations within the Indian immigrant community, utilizing dance as a medium for social change and cultural awareness. She is also a professional certified Yoga instructor, a tutor affiliated with Gujarat University Ahmedabad, India, and a trained make-up artist.