Ramlal Bareth

🪔 About

Pandit Ramlal Bareth, born on March 6, 1936, in Raigarh, Chhattisgarh, is a distinguished figure in Indian classical dance, particularly known as the foremost exponent of the Raigarh style of Kathak. He is the son of renowned Kathak guru Pt. Kartikram, a prominent dancer at the Raigarh court. Ramlal Bareth began his training at the tender age of four under his father's tutelage. His talent was recognized by Maharaja Chakradhar Singh, who ensured his continued training in Kathak dance, tabla, and vocal music with Pt. Kartikram and Pt. Jailal Maharaj in the Raigarh court. Throughout his extensive career spanning over six decades, Pt. Ramlal Bareth dedicated himself to the evolution and promotion of the Raigarh Kathak style, which is now recognized as the distinct Raigarh Kathak Gharana. He served as an artist in the Social Welfare Department from 1956 to 1980, during which time he also established the Chakradhar Sangeet Vidyalaya in Raigarh, imparting education in singing, instrumental music, and dance. From 1981 to 2011, he served as a Kathak Guru at the Chakradhar Nritya Kendra in Bhopal. He also held the position of Reader at Indira Kala Sangeet Mahavidyalaya, Khairagarh, from 1990 to 1992. Pt. Bareth has performed extensively in prestigious music conferences and festivals across India, including Lucknow, Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, and Hyderabad. He is also a co-writer of the book “Raigarh mein Kathak” with his father. He has trained hundreds of disciples, many of whom are now performers and teachers in India and abroad, with his son, Guru Bhupendra Bareth, continuing his legacy by running the Kartik Kathak Nritya Kendra in Bilaspur. Awards & Honours: Sangeet Natak Akademi Award (1995), Shikhar Samman (2003), Chakradhar Samman (2006), Padma Shri (2024), Akademi Ratna (Sangeet Natak Akademi Fellowship) (2024).