Manjari Chaturvedi

🪔 About

Manjari Chaturvedi is a leading Indian classical Kathak dancer, choreographer, and cultural academic, widely recognized for her pioneering work in creating "Sufi Kathak." Born in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, she belongs to the esteemed Lucknow Gharana of Kathak. Chaturvedi pursued her higher education with a postgraduate Masters in Environmental Sciences from Lucknow University. Her classical Kathak training was primarily under Guru Late Pandit Arjun Mishra from 1995 to 2002. She further honed her skills in abhinaya (expressions) under the tutelage of Late Smt. Kalanidhi Narayan and Smt. Priyadarshini Govind between 2004 and 2006. Additionally, she gained exposure to other dance forms through her association with Guru Late Protima Bedi and Guru Kumudini Lakhia at Nrityagram from 1997 to 1998. In 1998, Manjari Chaturvedi innovated and established her unique dance style, Sufi Kathak, which seamlessly blends the traditional Kathak form with the spiritual mysticism of Sufism. She has extensively researched Sufi traditions, collaborating with figures like Shri Muzaffar Ali and Shri Madan Gopal Singh. Over the past 25 years, Chaturvedi has performed in over 500 concerts across 32 countries, including prestigious venues like the Sydney Opera House, Royal Festival Hall, Rashtrapati Bhavan, and Parliament House. She is also the founder and president of the Sufi Kathak Foundation, a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting spiritual dance and music, providing scholarships, and supporting needy artists. Beyond her performances, Chaturvedi is a cultural academic and researcher, known for her projects like "The Courtesan Project," initiated in 2009 to reclaim the dignity and artistic contributions of tawaifs (courtesans) to Indian classical dance and music. Her "Qawwali Project," started in 2011, focuses on archiving, preserving, and supporting practitioners of Qawwali music. She also conducts workshops and classes, teaching classical Kathak and her Sufi Kathak style, incorporating elements like "naad meditation." Awards & Honours: Awadh Samman (2009), Women Achiever Award (2013), Devi Award (2024).