Manjiri Deo

🪔 About

Dr. Manjiri Deo is a distinguished Kathak maestro, dancer, teacher, writer, composer, actress, and organizer, with a prominent career spanning over 50 years in Indian classical dance. Born in Kolhapur, she commenced her Kathak and Bharatanatyam training under the renowned virtuoso Badrinath Kulkarni. Following her marriage to Shreeram Deo in 1968, she relocated to Thane, where she further deepened her Kathak expertise. Her advanced training was guided by legendary gurus including Asha Joglekar, Nataraj Gopikrishna, Dr. Sitara Devi, Dr. Puru Dadheech, and Dr. Vibha Dadheech. As a gandabandh shagird of Dr. Puru Dadheech, she is proficient in the Shastra tradition and has mastered the Banaras, Jaipur, Raigad, and Lucknow gharanas of Kathak. Dr. Deo has made significant contributions to Kathak not only as a performer and teacher but also as an author and researcher. She holds a doctoral degree from Gaandharva Mahavidyaalaya for her thesis, “An analytical study of applied Kavitta Chanda in Kathak dance.” Her literary works include "Nritya Saurabh" (which received a special award from the Government of Maharashtra), "Olakh Kattakchi," "Kathak Kaumadi" (used as a reference for post-graduation students), "An Insight into Kathak," and "Poetry Verses in Kathak Dance." She is the founder of Shree Ganesh Nritya Kala Mandir, an institution where she has trained hundreds of students for over four decades. Her choreographies include notable works like Aamrapali, Gayatri mantra, Geet Ramayan, Suryastuti, and Durgastuti. Awards & Honours: National Senior Fellowship (2023), Special Award for Best Literature, Silver Medal (Marathi Drama 'Beimaan'), SANGEET RATNA (2023).