Neesha Jhaveri

🪔 About

Neesha Jhaveri is a distinguished Kathak dancer, teacher, performer, and choreographer, originally from Mumbai, India, and a prominent figure in promoting Indian classical dance in Hong Kong. She received rigorous training in Kathak in Mumbai and is a disciple of the late Pt. Hazarilalji and Smt. Sunayana Hazarilal, both doyens of the Jankiprasad Kathak school of Banaras Gharana. Jhaveri completed her Rang Pravesh (debut performance) in 1990. Her dedication to the art form was recognized with a National Scholarship from the Government of India in 1995, which enabled her to pursue intensive training in the guru-shishya tradition with Guru Sunayana Hazarilal. After moving to Hong Kong in 2001, Neesha Jhaveri embarked on a mission to establish and enrich the local Indian classical arts scene. In 2003, she co-founded the Sri Shakti Company, which later evolved into the Sri Shakti Academy in 2005. Under her guidance, the academy has become a significant platform for Indian classical dance, offering regular classes and training to over fifty students, five of whom have successfully completed their Rang Pravesh. The academy also provides students with performance opportunities through annual shows like ANJALI and conducts formal examinations affiliated with Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan Sangeet and Nartan Shikshapeeth, Mumbai. Throughout her career, Jhaveri has performed extensively both in India and internationally. Notable performances include the Pallavotsava in Mysore and Kathak Mahotsava in Jaipur in 2000. With her troupe, she has graced stages in Shanghai (2013), Macao (2014), and Taiwan (2017-2019), and participated in various festivals organized by the Hong Kong Government, such as the Harbin Ice Festival (2014) and Asia Ethnic Cultural Festival (2017-2019). She has also performed at India's Republic Day celebrations in Hong Kong and at prestigious venues in Mumbai, including the National Centre for Performing Arts and Nehru Centre, in memory of her guru Pt. Hazarilalji. In 2020, she performed alongside her teacher Padmashree Sunayana Hazarilal at the Rabindra Natya Mandir in Mumbai. Her commitment to cultural exchange is evident in her collaborations with local artists and her participation in international events like the New York Kathak Festival in 2021. Awards & Honours: National Scholarship (1995).