Suhani Dhanki Mody

🪔 About

Suhani Dhanki Mody is an accomplished Indian Bharatanatyam dancer and television actress, renowned for her adherence to the Thanjavur tradition of Bharatanatyam. Born and raised in Mumbai, Maharashtra, India, she began her dance journey at the age of four. After an initial eight-year period with a local teacher, she became a dedicated disciple of the esteemed Guru Dr. Sandhya Purecha, a Sangeet Natak Akademi Awardee and eminent exponent of Indian art and culture. Under Dr. Purecha's tutelage, Suhani underwent rigorous training for over a decade, including four years dedicated to re-learning the fundamental adavus, emphasizing both the Shastra (theory) and Sampradaya (practice) methodology. She completed her arangetram, her solo debut recital, in 2012 after six years of intensive training with Dr. Purecha. Suhani Dhanki Mody holds a Master of Arts in Dance (Bharatanatyam) with a gold medal from Bharata College of Fine Arts & Culture in Mumbai, an institution founded by her guru and affiliated with Kalidasa Sanskrit University. She also possesses a law degree from the Government Law College, University of Mumbai, showcasing her multifaceted talents. Her dance career is marked by over 400 classical performances across India and internationally, where she often integrates storytelling with her expressive dance. She has been recognized as a graded artiste at Doordarshan Kendra, Mumbai, and was a recipient of a Government of India National Scholarship for Young Artists, which supported two years of advanced training and research. Beyond performing, Suhani has contributed to the dance community by compering over 30 dance festivals and cultural shows and publishing articles and reviews as a 'Special Reporter' for the Nartanam dance quarterly journal. Her contributions to Bharatanatyam have earned her several accolades, including the 'Girnar Nritya Ratna Samman,' 'Nalanda Nritya Nipuna' Award in 2018, the '58th Gopi Krishna National Award,' 'National Nritya Shiromani Award,' and the 'Sandipani Sangeet Ratna Samman.' In 2019, she was also named one of Akademi South Asian Dance UK's "40 under 40" promising artists. After her marriage in 2017, Suhani Dhanki Mody relocated to London, United Kingdom, where she is now permanently settled and continues her dedication to Bharatanatyam. Awards & Honours: Girnar Nritya Ratna Samman, Nalanda Nritya Nipuna Award (2018), 58th Gopi Krishna National Award, Lasya Mohini Title, National Nritya Shiromani Award, Sandipani Sangeet Ratna Samman, Akademi South Asian Dance UK's "40 under 40" promising artists (2019), Ghoghari Mahila Mandal Federation Felicitation.