Rajashree Shirke

Rajashree Shirke (borh 15th November 1951)is Indian classical dancer. Over the last four decades, Rajashree Shirke has not only made commendable contribution in the dance form of Kathak but she endeavors to explore new horizons and capture the unseen pulse of delight and exuberating joy in Indian Classical Dance through the technique and nuance of the Kathak dance-style. She is Performer, Choreographer as well as Educationist. Today, Rajashree Shirke is a respected Guru, an acclaimed academician, a famed creative choreographer, a gifted writer, an awarded actor and a performer par excellence. She is the Founder-Director and the Principal of the Lasya Centre For Dance Education and Research - an institute which conducts University-certified Diploma courses in the Indian Classical dance-style, Kathak.
==Biography==
Early Life:
Marriage and Children:
==Academic Qualifications==
* Master’s Degree in Hindi Literature from the SNDT Women’s University.
* Received the Senior Fellowship from the Ministry of Culture – Govt. Of India, for research on the - ‘Katha-Kathan Shaili-(s)’ [story-telling art forms] From the Temples of North India And Their Future Possibilities. These would mainly be the temples of Ayodhya, Mathura etc. and other such regions. 
* Also pursuing her personal research work from the past 10 years on the ‘Vaarkari Sampradaaye’ [Maharashtrian Saint-poets of the ‘Bhakti’ movement] of 
Maharashtra. 
* Master’s Degree in Indian Classical Dance in Bharatnatyam from the Nalanda Nritya Kala Mahavidyalaya, Mumbai University.
Guru-s in Kathak
* Initiation into Kathak by Guru D.S. Satamkar.
* Rigorous, extensive training in all of the three Kathak Gharanas – Lucknow, Banaras and Jaipur - from Late Guru (Smt.) Madhurita Sarang.
Guru-s in Bharata Natyam
* Initiated into this style by Guru (Smt.) P.N. Rajalakshmi .
* Trained and groomed under stalwarts like ‘Kalaimamani’ Guru Kadirvellu, Guru Sounderajan and Guru (Smt.) Thangamani Nagarajan.
* Studied the nuances of ‘Abhinaya’ from one of the greatest renowned danseuse Padmashree Dr. (Smt.) Kanak Rele
==An Over-view of Laurels Achieved==
Rajashree Shirke has performed at several renowned festivals and artistic venues, including the –
* National Kathak Festivals
* Sangeet Natak Akademi
* National Theatre Festival
* Kala Ghoda Arts Festival
* National Centre for Performing Arts (NCPA) Mumbai 
* India International Centre, Delhi 
* Bharat Rang Mahotsav -National School of Drama, New Delhi.
* International Theatre Olympics -2018, National School of Drama, New Delhi
==Awards and Accolades==
 	
* Received the Mumbai Mayor’s Award for Women Achievers of the Year on Women’s Day [March 8, 2005] 	* Awarded the ‘Aadarsh Shikshak’ [Ideal Teacher] award for the year 2007 from Sant Rohidas Samaj.
* Awarded the Marathi Sahitya Sangha Award for work in Experimental Theatre to Lasya- founded by Rajashree Shirke- 2003. 	* Marathi Sahitya Sangha Award for Creativity in Sangeet Natak-2006.
* Nominated for her powerful portrayal of Hidimba in MATA HIDIMBA for the Maharashtra Times Sanman Award for Best actress in the leading role [Theatre].	* Awarded the ‘High Acheiver’s Award’ by the Rotary Club of India for pioneering excellence and high performance in the field of Fine Arts by making noteworthy social contribution and social awareness through Indian Classical Dance
* Received the SANGEET NATAK AKADEMI (2013) award for outstanding contribution to the field of Indian Classical Dance(Kathak). 	* Recently received the BEST ACTRESS award for a short film – “PAHAAT” which won at the Mumbai Asian Short-Film Festival, 2018 and the Rotary Club – Ruia College ‘Pukaar’ Festival, 2018.
* On the panel of experts and several Selection Committees of the Central Ministry of Culture, India. 	* On the panel of expert selection committee of the National School of Drama, New Delhi
==Major Performances==
A. Theatre Festivals –
* Bharat Rang Mahotsav – 2001, 2004, 2015 – (New Delhi, Agartala) of the National School of Drama.
* Rangavardhan – Maharashtra theatre festival. (2005)
* Mumbai Sahitya Sangha Theatre Festival, Mumbai (2004, 2005).
* Arvind Deshpande Smriti Mahotsav Theatre Festival, Mumbai (2005, 2007, 2015).
* International Theatre Olympics – (Jaipur) – National School Of Drama (2018).
* Minerva National Theatre Festival – Minerva NatyaSanskriti CharchaKendra Kolkata (2017).
* Sangeet Natak Akademi Theatre Festival, New Delhi (2005)
* Prithvi Theatre Festival, Mumbai – (1999,2002,2003)
* Chandigarh Sangeet Natak Akademi – (2013)
* National Theatre Festival, Nehru Centre, Mumbai (2002)
* Maharashtra Cultural Centre , Pune (2015)
B. Solo Dance Recitals –
* 1984: Durga Pooja Conference, Patna.
* 1989,1990, 1991,1992, 1993: Janmashtami Festivals, Iskon, Mumbai.
* 1993: Relief Fund raising programme for the Latur earthquake victims organised by the Ministry of Cultural Affairs, Govt. of Maharashtra.
* 1994: Haridas Sammelan organised by the Sur Singaar Samsad, Mumbai.
* 1995: Pt. Bhagatram Sangeet Samaroh, Mumbai 
* 1996: Pt. Paluskar Samaroh, Mumbai.
* 1996: Music Conference of the ‘Halim Academy of Sitar’, Mumbai.
* 1997: National Centre for Performing Arts (N.C.P.A.), Mumbai
* 1998:India International Centre, New Delhi.
* 1999: Sadanand Nyas, Indore
* 2004: Raindrops Festival, Mumbai.
* 2005: Kathak Mahotsav, New Delhi
* 2005: 50th year of Swami Haridas Sangeet Haridas Sammelan, Mumbai 
* 2006: Mumbai Festival
* 2008: Akhil Bharatiya Vividh Kala Mahotsav, Dapoli & Kankavli-(March)
* 2008: Swati Tirunal Festival, Chennai (July)
* 2010: “Khajuraho Festival” – A national festival of Indian Classical Dance.(December)
* 2016 : SPIC MACAY, Defence Aviation Barracks, Khadak Vasla, Pune.
C. Dance Festivals / Production-s/Presentations -
* 1998, 2004: Nrityanjali Dance Festival, Ahmedabad.
* 1999:Taj Milan Festival, Agra.
* 1999: Invited by Geetanjali Organisation, Hong Kong.
* 1999: Gopi Krishna Mahotsav, Thane.
* 2000: Marathwada Sangeeth Pracharak Samiti, Nanded.
* 2000: Ram Marathe Sangeet Mahotsav,Thane.
* 2000: India Habitat Centre, Dehli.
* 2001: KalaGhoda festival, Mumbai. 
* 2002: National Kathak Festival, Delhi 
* 2002: Asian Film Festival, Y B Chavan Auditorium, Mumbai.
* 2007: Kalaghoda Festival, Mumbai
* 2007: Kathak Kendra’s Kathak Mahotsav, Pune
* 2007: Viraasat Festival, Lucknow (October)
* 2008: Deval Club Foundation, Kolhapur (May)
* 2008: (a) “Nritya Sanrachna” – A national festival of Dance Choreography by the Sangeet Natak Academi, Hyderabad (July) (b) “Dhauli Festival” – A national dance festival organized by Orissa Dance Academy, Bhubhaneshwar.(December)
* 2009: “Shruti Mandal”- A national cultural organization of Indian Fine Arts from Rajasthan(Udaipur), organizing the national festival of Classical Music and Dance.(April)
* 2010: “Maandu Festival” - A national festival of Indian Classical Dance.(December)
* 2011: ‘Kathak Mahotsav’ - Rashtriya Kathak Sansthaan, Lucknow.
* 2012: `Natyanjali, a festival of dance, drama and music based on the works of Rabindranath Tagore, Chandigarh
* 2013: Ahmedabad, Rajkot, Trisshur, Bengaluru, Honnavar, Bhubaneshwar, Delhi.
* 2014 : Sangeet Natak Akademi – Award Function Performance, New Delhi.
* 2014 : Vishwa Paryatan Divas, Raipur.
* 2015 : Kalavardhini Trust - Music Academy – Chennai.
* 2015 : S.N.D.T. Womens University’s Department of Research Centre, Mumbai.
* 2015 : “MAIKHAAR” – A poetic production created for Nehru Center, Mumbai.
* 2015 : Reliance Township, Ganpati Celebrations, Jamnagar, Gujarat.
* 2015 : Nakshatra Festival, N.C.P.A., Mumbai.
* 2015 : Virasat Festival, Lucknow.
* 2015 : Konark Festival, Odisha.
* 2015 : Sanskar Bharti – Mumbai.
* 2015 : Centennial Celebrations of Banaras Hindu University- Varanasi.
* 2016 : Kalavardhini Trust, Chennai.
* 2016 : Sanskriti Smavardhan Pratishthan, Sanskar Bharati, Mumbai.
* 2016 : Kalka Bindadin Smriti – Samaroh, Kathak Kendra, New Delhi.
* 2016 : Centennial Celbrations of S.N.D.T Womens University – Classical Dane Festival, Mumbai.
* 2016 : “SINGHAST KUMBH” – Kumbh Mela, Ujjain.
* 2017 : Sanskar Bharti, Mumbai.
* 2017 : Parampara Festival, New Delhi.
* 2017 : Virasat Festival, Lucknow.
* 2017 : Sangeet Natak Akademi – Nritya Sanrachna Festival, Agartala.
* 2018 : India Impressario Festival, Silver Jubilee Celebrations, New Delhi.
* 2019 : NCPA Nakshatra Dance Festival, 2019
* 2020 : Dhauli Kaling Dance Festival Bhubaneswar.
D. Seminars / Articles –
* 2008 : Natya Kala Conference – International Conference on Ramayana, Chennai.
* 2012 : Natya Darshan- ‘Mad N Divine’ – Chennai, International Conference on female Saint Poets.
* 2013: Natya Darshan - ‘Epic Women’ – Chennai, International Conference on Epic Women characters of India.
* 2018 : Theatre Olympics – Bengaluru, National School Of Drama.
* 2018 : Shreshtha Bharat Sanskriti Samagam – Amritsar (Sangeet Natak Akademi).
E. Festivals & Seminars Organized –
* YATRA – A National festival of Theatre, Dance and Music celebrating International Dance Day (29th April) as declared by the U.N.E.S.C.O. – since 2003.
* MADHURANG – A festival of Dance and Music for upcoming artists in memory of Late Guru Sushri Madhurita Sarang since 2007.
* SOPAAN MAHOTSAV – A national festival of Theatre, Dance and Music since 2016.
* LASYA CHHATROTSAV – A festival showcasing the talents of Lasya’s disciples.
* Seminar on – “Choreography in Indian Classical Dance Styles”.
* Seminar on – “Sahitya Aur Kathak”.
* Seminar on – “Lok Rang Bhoomi of Maharashtra – yesterday, today, tomorrow”.
* Seminar on – “Guru Shishya Parampara – yesterday, today and tomorrow”.
==Performer-Choreographer-Educationist==
Teaching:
* Founder-Principal of the Lasya Centre for Dance Education and Research affiliated to the SNDT women’s University, offering Diplomas and Certificate 
* Courses to students in Kathak. 
* Has a 40 year extensive teaching experience through teaching Classical Dance in numerous schools and institutions on request ; staging and choreographing 
* an unfathomably enormous number of Classical and Folk Dance compositions for schools, colleges, Dance competitions, all by popular demand. 
* Founder-director of Lasya, an institution that imparts dance education in Kathak and has a professional production team of performers. 
* Has trained numerous students who have attained a professional proficiency in Classical dance. 
* Active involvement in imparting dance training to the underprivileged children free of cost through many women empowerment projects.
* Conducts lectures as guest lecturer of “Body Language” for the Post Graduate Diploma Course in Theatre, Mumbai University. 
Lecture-Demonstrations and Workshops:
* “Ashtanayika” - A lecture-demonstration exploring the eight Nayikas mentioned in the ancient Sanskrit treatise of the Natya Shastra through the medium of Kathak. Conducted for the Post-Graduate Department of Sanskrit, SNDT Women’s University.
* “Kathakaar Parampara“ - Workshop held at the Kathak Kendra, Delhi and Bangalore on the Indian narrative tradition in classical dance.
* “From Text To Performances” - A lecture-demonstration conducted for the Post-Graduate Department of English, SNDT Women’s University. This lecture sketched the linkages between traditional and modern dance, via the idiom of Kathak ; based on the literature of saint-poets of Maharashtra, and also through Ranga Nritya - a post-modern genre of theatre performance.
* “Rasaranga”- A lecture-demonstration focusing on the basic precepts in the language of Indian Dance.
* “Abhinaya In Kathak”- This was a formal invitation by the Delhi Kathak Kendra for conducting a series of recurring lecture-demonstrations for the advanced students of the Delhi Kathak Kendra.
* “Dance As An Art of Living”- A workshop specially conducted for Pune-based schoolteachers, with ages ranging from twenty to fifty years. This focused on dance as the means of body-mind purification and increased connectedness, concentration, creativity, self-discipline, energy and contentment.
* “Kathak And Bharata Natyam – A Comparative Study”- A comparative analysis of the contrasting dance styles Kathak and Bharat Natyam, conducted for teachers of the Bombay Municipal Corporation.
* “Body Language”- This theatre workshop explored the possibilities of movements through the Kathak genre, for actors and was conducted by the Theatre Group - Awishkaar, Mumbai.
* “Women’s Empowerment”- A re-vision from a woman’s perspective of strong willed and multifaceted women characters from the Mahabharata presented through the Ranga-Nritya genre presented at a seminar organized by the SNDT women’s university. 
* “Dance For Spiritual Wellness”- A series of lecture-demonstrations conducted in various colleges of the S.N.D.T.University in mumbai and Municipal schools of Mumbai (Santacruz area) preaching on training in Indian Classical dance brings about confidence, bodily strength, courage and spiritual, mental well-being.
Category:1951 births
Category:Indian dancers
Category:Indian people