Performer. Choreographer. Creative Producer.
Performer. Choreographer. Creative Producer.
I am a versatile and experienced Kathak dancer with over eight years’ professional performance experience. Originally from Mumbai, India I am now based in Leeds, UK after having completed my MA in Dance and Creative Enterprise from the Northern School of Contemporary Dance. I have performed at arts festivals, prestigious venues, and international platforms in India and the UK including the Leeds Playhouse, Carriageworks Theatre, Riley Theatre, and outdoor spaces like Headingley Stadium. I have been associated with Dance Studio Leeds, The Middle Floor, and Open Source Arts.
As a contemporary practitioner of a classical dance form, I integrate Kathak’s aesthetics with experimental theatre, creating work that bridges cultural history and modern expressions. I bring a holistic understanding of performance production and audience engagement, informed by my collaborations with leading organisations in the UK and India like Art X Company (India), Drama School Mumbai (India), and beej Foundation for Performing Arts (India), as well as South Asian Arts-UK in Leeds.
Since 2024, I have taken a keen interest in teaching Kathak authentically with the support of King's Trust (formerly known as the Prince's Trust). I received the prestigious DYCP grant from Arts Council England to explore my creative practice and choreographic inquiry which I am utilising to further my practice as a choreographer.
Recent projects include:
Threads of Change: Marking a Year of One Dha At A Time, a reflective event celebrating One Dha At A Time, my latest production featuring Kathak, Bharatanatyam, Manipuri, and Odissi in contemporary dialogue.
Kathak Solo at An Indian Summer Festival at The Curve Leicester.
Dance-poetry performance on the subject chronic illness for ESRC Festival in collaboration with Dr. Lucy Prodgers.
Open to performance opportunities, residencies, and collaborations to elevate South Asian dance on the global stage.
TAAL BETAAL
A piece that explores 'Taal' using Kathak's most distinct aspect 'tatkaar' with patterns, 'bols', 'laya', pauses and breath. Performed live with Luke Reddin-Williams on the tabla.
Developed with the support of Andrew Wilson and Ella Tighe for BOLD! Bradford Scratch Night (March 2025).
MY DANCE STARTS HERE
An experimental solo performance that disrupts the spatial design and rhythmic graph of a conventional Kathak performance.
Developed with the support of NSCD (May 2023) and Furnace Festival (November 2023) at the Leeds Playhouse.
THE THUMRI EXPERIMENT Watch an excerpt
Performed a thumri with two dancers who had no background in Kathak. A thumri is a distinct music-dance genre of Indian origin with huge cultural significance. In the creative process, they were invited to interpret and embody it as best as they could.
February 2022 - Riley Theatre, Leeds, UK
WE ARE OTHER Watch an excerpt
An ensemble choreography that explored the sociological concept of ‘Otherness’ specifically through the lens of gender and identity. The highlight of the process was adopting the storytelling techniques of Hasta Mudras (hand gestures) from the Kathak repertoire to blend with contemporary movements.
December 2021 – Northern School of Contemporary Dance, UK
Threads of Change | Producer | November 2024 | Online | Supported by Akademi Watch an excerpt
ONE DHA AT A TIME | Producer - Director | November 2023 | Seven Arts Leeds | Supported by SAA-uk Watch the trailer
9 moments | Producer & Performer |May 2022 | Seven Arts Leeds | Supported by NSCD Watch the trailer
ArtsComeOnline | Creative Producer | Apr 2020 - Sep 2021
TARANA IN TEENTAAL - An Indian Summer Festival with Nupur Arts - The Curve Leicester (2024)
TU MAI SARASWATI - My Leeds Summer Grant Awardee (LEEDS 2023) - Headingley Community Festival & Beeston Festival, Leeds (2023)
RAJATA CHANDRAMA – Parampara Dance Showcase – Carriageworks Theatre, Leeds (2023) - Watch the full performance
THE CONTEMPORARY CONFUSION OF THE MILLENNIAL KATHAK DANCER – Riley Theatre, Leeds (2022) - An excerpt
KATHAK REPERTOIRE for Sampoorna Shiksha’s Natya Swaram Fundraiser (2021) - Watch the full performance
KATHAK REPERTOIRE for Kala Gaurav Dance Festival (2020) - An excerpt
KATHAK REPERTOIRE for beej Living Room Series (2020), beej Baithak (2017), Rotary International Conference (2015) and Rotary Club of Mumbai Mahim (2014) - An excerpt
DANCE-POETRY PERFORMANCE with Dr. Lucy Prodgers for ESRC Festival, Leeds (2024)
THE INVISIBLE PARADOX with Dr. Lucy Prodgers for Creative Labs by Bradford Producing Hub, Leeds (2024)
THE AWAKENING at LEEDS 2023 Inaugural Show, Headingley Stadium, Leeds (2023)
NAYIKA INTERRUPTED at Women’s Day Conference, University of Mumbai, Mumbai (2019)
EMPATHY at International Council for Dance, Mumbai (International Dance Day 2019)
SAWAN at Nepa International Dance Festival, Nepa, Madhya Pradesh (2019)
TU MAI SARASWATI at Indo-Japanese Commerce Conference, Yokohama Festival, Mumbai (2018)
KATHAK REPERTOIRE at Mahila Vikas Mandal, Mumbai (2018)
NADI STUTI for Rally for Rivers campaign by Isha Foundation, Mumbai (2017)
KATHAK REPERTOIRE at Stree Ratna Awards, Chembur Fine Arts Society, Mumbai (2017)
LOITERING, a documentary theatre piece based on the book ‘Why Loiter?’ - NCPA Productions – Performed at Mumbai, FTII Pune, Windermere Festival, Bareilly (2016-2017)
KATHAK REPERTOIRE at Prerana Awards for Sahyadri Doordarshan, TV (2015)
KATHAK REPERTOIRE at Khandoba Festival, Pune (2015)
SHATJANM SHODHITANA performed in Mumbai, Pune, Indore, Nagpur and Port Blair (2008 – 2015)
GOPIKA HRIDAYAM with Spandan Arts at Mumbai, Surat, Chennai (2014-2016)
DEVELOP YOUR CREATIVE PRACTICE GRANT, Arts Council England (2024)
ALLEYNE DANCE CHOREOGRAPHY MENTORSHIP, UK to develop my choreographic inquiry and style (2024)
ENTERPRISE PROGRAMME & GRANT AWARDEE - King's Trust (2024)
ELEVATE RESIDENCY, Open Source Arts, UK to develop ‘Namesake’ (2024)
ARTIST RESIDENCY, Dance Studio Leeds, UK to research new movement language (2023)
ILIKENETWORKING GROUP MENTORSHIP, UK to network with womxn creative professionals across the UK (2022)
ABHYAS SOMATICS with Navtej Johar (2023)
PERFORMING ARTS INDUSTRY ESSENTIALS by NYU Tisch School (Online) (2021)
INDIAN PERFORMING ARTS MANAGEMENT COURSE with Masoom Parmar (2021)
ARTS MANAGEMENT WORKSHOP by Art Think South Asia ATSA (2019)