Siddhi Goel

🪔 About

Siddhi Goel is a distinguished Kathak dancer, teacher, choreographer, and researcher based in Delhi, India. She is a devoted disciple of Guru Pandit Jai Kishan Maharaj of the esteemed Lucknow Gharana, a lineage that directly connects her to the rich heritage of Kathak through his father, the famed Kathak exponent Pandit Birju Maharaj. Goel's formal training includes a Diploma with Honours in Kathak from Kathak Kendra, the National Institute of Kathak Dance, which she joined at the age of nine after beginning her Kathak journey at seven. Furthering her academic pursuits, she earned an MA in Arts and Aesthetics from Jawaharlal Nehru University, where her focus was on Dance History and Performance Studies, allowing her to integrate her practical dance knowledge with theoretical understanding. Goel is particularly renowned for her in-depth research into the history and evolution of dance in Hindi cinema, with a special emphasis on the often-overlooked contributions of courtesans and Kathak artists in early 20th-century Indian cinema. This significant research has been supported by an Arts Research Grant from the India Foundation for the Arts and a Sahapedia UNESCO Fellowship in 2017. She is the visionary founder of 'All Things Kathak,' an initiative dedicated to fostering research, community engagement, and appreciation for Kathak, notably through its monthly "Kathak Townhall" conversation series for artists globally. As a performer, Siddhi Goel has graced stages both as a soloist and as part of her guru's productions. She also contributes as a facilitator for ImmerseGo, developing innovative Kathak-based Arts Integrated Learning Modules. Her artistic vision extends to curating and exploring interdisciplinary approaches, aiming to broaden Kathak's expressive vocabulary by incorporating elements from poetry, music, and other art forms. She is also a scholarship holder from Sahitya Kala Parishad, Govt. of Delhi. Awards & Honours: Sahapedia UNESCO Fellow (2017), Arts Research Grant, Scholarship Holder.