Rohini Bhate

🪔 About

Rohini Bhate (14 November 1924 – 10 October 2008) was a legendary Indian Kathak dancer, teacher, writer, researcher, and critic. Born in Patna, Bihar, she completed her schooling and college in Pune, earning an arts degree from Fergusson College in 1946. Initially trained in Bharatanatyam under Guru Parvati Kumar, she began her Kathak journey in the same year with Sohanlal of the Jaipur Gharana. She further specialized in Kathak under the tutelage of Pandit Lachhu Maharaj of the Lucknow gharana for over twelve years and Pandit Mohanrao Kallianpurkar of the Jaipur gharana for more than fifteen years. Bhate also studied Hindustani classical music under Keshavrao Bhole and Vasantrao Deshpande, often composing music for her own dance creations. In 1947, Rohini Bhate founded the Nrityabharati Kathak Dance Academy in Pune, an institution that has since trained hundreds of dancers and popularized Kathak among middle-class families in Maharashtra. Her approach to Kathak was analytical and innovative, leading her to create a vast repertoire of dance compositions and choreographies, including notable works like "Shakuntala," "Ṛtusaṃhāra," and "Usba Sukta." She served on the committee of Khairagarh University and contributed to the Kathak syllabi at Lalit Kala Kendra, University of Pune, where she was a visiting lecturer and guru. Bhate authored several Marathi books, including her autobiography "Majhi Nrityasadhana," a translation of Isadora Duncan's autobiography "Mi Isadora," and an edited version of the Sanskrit manual "Abhinaya Darpana" titled "Kathak Darpana Deepika." Throughout her illustrious career, Rohini Bhate received numerous accolades. Her notable students, who continue her legacy, include Shama Bhate, Neelima Adhye, Prabha Marathe, Prerana Deshpande, Sharadini Gole, Roshan Datye, Prajakta Raj, Amala, and Aruna Kelkar. She passed away in Pune on October 10, 2008, at the age of 83, due to complications from Parkinson's disease. Awards & Honours: Maharashtra Rajya Puraskar (1977), Sangeet Natak Akademi Award (1979), Maharashtra Gaurav Puraskar (1990), Godavari Puraskar (1994), Pride of Pune (1995), Sangeetshri (1996), Emeritus Fellowship, Government of India (1997), Jeevan Sadhna Gaurav Puraskar by Pune Vidyapeeth (1999), Kalidas Samman (2001), Fellow of Sangeet Natak Akademi (2006), Akademi Ratna, Sangeet Natak Akademi (2007).