Urja Desai Thakore

🪔 About

Urja Desai Thakore is a highly acclaimed Kathak dancer, choreographer, and educator, recognized as one of the UK's leading practitioners of the classical Indian dance form. Her journey in dance began at a young age in Ahmedabad, India, where she initially explored Bharatanatyam at four before dedicating herself to Kathak from the age of six. She received extensive training for over two decades under the tutelage of legendary guru Kumudini Lakhia at Kadamb, Ahmedabad, and also learned predominantly from Sandhya Desai. Furthering her academic credentials, Thakore earned a BA in Kathak from Akhil Bharatiya Gandharva Maha Vidyalaya and an MA in South Asian Dance with Choreography from Roehampton University. Thakore is the Artistic Director and CEO of Pagrav Dance Company, which she re-established in the UK in 2005. The company, originally founded by her mother and aunts in India in the early 1980s, is based in Milton Keynes and also operates in London, promoting Kathak through performances, training, and talent development. She began her teaching career at Kadamb in 1997, continuing until her move to the UK in March 2003, and now boasts over two decades of teaching experience, offering classes in Bletchley and London. Her expertise extends to her role as an examiner and faculty member for the Imperial Society of Teachers of Dancing (ISTD) for almost a decade, where she has contributed to rewriting the Classical Indian Dance syllabus. Throughout her career, Thakore has been a significant figure in the dance community, serving as guest choreographer for the BBC Young Dancer competition in both 2015 and 2022, and as Artistic Director of the first dance festival in Milton Keynes in 2012. Her choreographic style is noted for its sensitive, thought-provoking nature, blending traditional Kathak with contemporary storytelling. She is also a strong advocate for South Asian dance in the UK, working to ensure its vibrant presence and to nurture the next generation of artists. Awards & Honours: Utkarsh award (2014), Eastern Eye Award for Dance (2023).