Shailaja Nalwade

🪔 About

Shailaja Nalwade is a renowned Kathak dancer, teacher, and institution head. She underwent intensive Kathak training under her Guru and further honed her skills under the guidance of the Kathak maestro, Pandit Birju Maharaj. Her understanding of rhythm and rhythmic cycles was developed through coaching from the tabla maestro Taalyogi Pandit Suresh Talwalkar. Shailaja Nalwade holds a master's degree (Alankar) in Kathak. She has dedicated several decades to training students and currently serves as the Director of Nrityanjali Arts, a prominent Kathak dance school located in New Jersey, USA. In addition to her role at Nrityanjali Arts, she is responsible for the Bharati Vidyapeeth / Bharati Vidyapeeth Deemed University's examination center in New Jersey, which caters to various classical art forms. Nalwade has performed at notable cultural events, including Kathak Duets at the AAI Arts Festival at the India Habitat Centre and at Shilpotsav Noida-2013. Her significant contributions to Kathak have been recognized with several awards, such as the Madhuvan Gaurav Puraskar, Nrutya Vilasini Award, Nrutya-Nipun Award, and the Dombivalikar Puraskar. She was also a recipient of a scholarship from the Ministry of Culture, Government of India, in 2009-2010. Awards & Honours: Madhuvan Gaurav Puraskar, Nrutya Vilasini Award, Nrutya-Nipun Award, Dombivalikar Puraskar, Scholarship from the Ministry of Culture, Government of India (2009).