Teaching Faculty 2010

Padmabhushan Kumudini Lakhia :

Padmashri Kumudini Lakhia , of the Lucknow gharana, is one of the foremost Gurus and Kathak Choreographers in India. Credited with many innovations in Kathak, she is the Founder & Director of Kadamb, a renowned Kathak institution in Ahmedabad, India. Her teaching and choreography is admired not only in India but the world over

Padmashri Leela Samson:

Padmashri Leela Samson received the impulses for her growth as a dancer from Kalakshetra, the College of Fine Arts in Chennai, Tamil-Nadu. She adheres to the mould of the Kalakshetra technique yet has grown out of its binding, believing as she does that adherence to any school is a point of reference only. She is however deeply influenced by Rukmini Devi, the founder of that institute and its philosophy. She is an acclaimed performer, accomplished teacher & choreographer, and also an acknowledged author. In May 2005, she became the Director of her alma mater, Kalakshetra. .

Padmashri Madhavi Mudgal:

One of the leading classical dancers of India, Padmashri Madhavi Mudgal is a highly renowned exponent of the Odissi style. She has received repeated acclaim in the major cities and dance festivals that have featured her throughout the world as teacher and performer. Her grace, sensitivity and aesthetic imagination are particularly sought-after and widely admired.

Vaijayanti Kashi:

One of India's most respected classical dancers, Vaijayanthi Kashi is also a choreographer, dance guru, dance therapist, researcher and organizer. Twenty years in the field of dance and now in twilight, Vyjayanthi remains undaunted, vibrant and committed. Well known as the dynamic force in Kuchipudi, she steps to conquer unfettered by anything but dance. She has firmly stamped her arresting presence on the contemporary Kuchipudi scene in an incredibly individualistic and totally personal style.

Priyadarsini Govind:

Priyadarsini Govind is one of the foremost Bharatanatyam dancers amongst the current generation. She is a dancer known for her command of traditional technique while at the same time effortlessly embracing the contemporary. Acquiring a massive repertoire of padams and javalis from the Abhinaya guru Smt. Kalanidhi Narayanan, Priyadarsini is renowned for her exquisite expressiveness.

Nirupama & Rajendra:

Nirupama and Rajendra, a dynamic and spellbinding dancing couple, have over the years created a wave of excitement and electricity on the modern Indian dance scene. With their own wordwide successful dance company ‘Abhinava Dance Company’ firmly established as one of India’s most popular and cutting-edge, the duo have been credited with injecting a great deal of innovation, creativity, enthusiasm and imagination to Kathak. Nirupama and Rajendra are regularly present at major festivals around the world. They are dancers, choreographers, teachers and artistic directors for Abhinava and are committed to furthering Indian dance excellence

Sanjukta Sinha :

Sanjukta Sinha, student of Smt. Kumudini Lakhia, is a young and upcoming Kathak dancer and represents the new generation of artistes in India. She currently teaches in Kadamb at Ahmedabad and as an ICCR empanelled artist, regularly features in major festivals across India. She is also working with her Guru on a cutting-edge project called ‘Kathak in its New Vocabulary’, which explores the use of new movements, dimensions, space and speed while keeping the traditional framework of Kathak in tact.

Arushi Mudgal:

Arushi Mudgal is one of the most talented and beautiful young Odissi dancer. She is a disciple of Smt. Madhavi Mudgal. Arushi is not only a successful performer but also teaches at the Gandharava Mahavidyalaya, a great dance and music institution started by her grandfather, Pandit Vinaychandra Maudgalya, in New Delhi.

Shijith Nambiar & Parvathy Menon

Partners in Dance as well as in Life, Shijith Nambiar & Parvathy Menon are one of the most prominent Dance Duos in the discipline of Bharatanatyam. Shijith is an ex-faculty member of “Kalakshetra”, a versatile Dancer, an exceptional Nattuvanar and a unique choreographer. Shijith Nambiar has already made his presence felt in India and abroad in the discipline of Bharatanatyam.

Parvathy Menon completed her post diploma in Bharatanatyam from Kalakshetra. Excellent stage presence and exceptional bhavabhinaya demonstrated by Parvathy makes her distinct and exemplary. Parvathy has traveled widely around the globe as one of the reformers of the Kalakshetra repertory Company.

Prateeksha Kashi :

Prateeksha is being trained in Kuchipudi under the guidance of her mother and GURU Smt.Vyjayanthi Kashi. At the age of 13, Prateeksha topped the State in the Kuchipudi Dance Junior exam with a distinction. She is now dancing and playing prominent roles in almost all the dance dramas with her seniors for many national and international dance festivals. Prateeksha's passion extends beyond dance. She is pursuing her education in Computer Science at the BMS College of Engineering Bangalore .Being an ex Carmelite, she was a prominent dancer of the Indian Dance Association of Mount Carmel College.

Programme Coordinator: Dr. Swati Raut

Dr. Swati Raut trained in Bharatanatyam and Mohiniattam at ‘Nrityashree’ in Mumbai, and learnt from Krishnan Kutty Nair and Ammu Kutty. She is a leading choreographer, Dancer and Dance teacher from the Northwest of England. She sits on the board for DIGM (Dance Initiative Greater Manchester) and is also a faculty member of the ISTD (Imperial Society of Teachers of Dance). She has been closely associated with Dance India and Milapfest activities for many years. She is also teaches Bharatanatyam to many children in Northwest. She is the Dance India Education Programme Coordinator this year.

.Teaching Faculty by Dance Style :

Bharatanatyam

Kathak

Odissi

* Kuchipudi

Leela Samson

Kumudini Lakhia

Madhavi Mudgal

Vaijayanti Kashi

Priyadarsini Govind

Nirupama and Rajendra

Arushi Mudgal

Prateeksha Kashi

Shijith Nambiar

Sanjukta Sinha

. Musicians :

Nattuvangam

Mridangam

Tabla

Pakhawaj

Shijith Nambiar

R R Prathap

Kousic Sen

Upneet Dhadyalla

Manthan Mehta

. Previous Years Faculty

To view Faculty for 2009 please click here

To view Faculty for 2008 please click here

Disclaimer: Milapfest reserves the right to substitute the teaching faculty advertised or alter the programme, without prior notice to the particpant in the event of unforeseen circumstances.