Priscilla Brülhart - Gauri

🪔 About

Priscilla Brülhart, known by her stage name Gauri, is a Swiss Kathak dancer, choreographer, and teacher, born in Fribourg, Switzerland. Her artistic journey began in 1997 with studies at the Conservatoire de Musique and "Danse Plus" school in Monaco, followed by workshops at the Laban Dance Center in London, where she explored various dance styles including classical, jazz, contemporary, and funky. In 2006, Brülhart discovered Kathak and became a disciple of Pt Ravi Shankar Mishra in Benares, India, where she received her stage name "Gauri". She pursued extensive training, earning junior, senior, and Prabhakar diplomas in Kathak from the Prayag Sangeet Samiti academy in Allahabad. During her time in India, she also trained in yoga therapy, tabla, Indian rhythm, and Hindustani singing with Pt Ritesh Mishra of the Benares Gharana. She also had the opportunity to learn from the legendary Padma Vibhushan Pandit Birju Maharaj. Since 2010, Gauri has been performing and representing the Benares style of Kathak internationally, collaborating with various artistic groups and performing on prestigious stages, including the Sankat Mochan Sangeet Samaroh in Benares. In January 2014, she founded the Sangeet Swiss Association to promote Indian classical arts and foster intercultural exchanges in Switzerland. She teaches Kathak and yoga at institutions like Le Dance center Monique Van der Roer Villars-sur-Glâne and the Ateliers d'ethnomusicologie in Geneva. Her choreographic work includes "Shiva Shakti," which premiered in 2020 and has been presented at various festivals. Gauri has been recognized for her dedication and contribution to Indian classical arts, receiving multiple awards from Swaranjali and Pracheen Kala Kendra Chandigard in India, as well as being honored by the Indian Ambassador to Switzerland and the Indian Embassy at the UN in Geneva. She also received a mobility grant in 2020 for artistic research in Kathak and contemporary dance. In May 2024, she plans to open an academy for Indian classical arts in Léchelles. Awards & Honours: Award for dedication and involvement in Indian classical arts (2021), Award for dedication and involvement in Indian classical arts (2021), Award for dedication and Kathak career, and promotion of Indian culture, Honored for contribution to the promotion of Indian culture and career as a dancer (2023), Mobility grant for artistic research (2020).