Pali Chandra Explained

Pali Chandra, (born 19 November 1967) is a Kathak Exponent, Choreographer, Digital Dance Educator,[1] Mentor and artistic director.[2] Intensively trained in the field of Kathak, she now propagates Dance Education through various channels. She has established several studios specialising in Kathak Training Programs in the United Kingdom, United Arab Emirates, India and Switzerland. She has directed 14 Art Festivals in various continents. She is the co-founder for the portal learnkathakonline[3] [4] and Course Director of Kathak for natyasutraonline[5] with Invis Multimedia.

Pali is a committee member of the Imperial Society of Teachers of Dancing, and a graded member[6] of the Indian Council for Cultural Relations.

Early life

Born and raised in Lucknow, the capital of Uttar Pradesh.

Personal life

Pali is married to Vishal Chandra and has twin sons. They live together in Schinznach Bad in Aargau, Switzerland.

Education

Pali Chandra,".[7]

Dance Training

Pali Chandra started dancing at the age of six.[8] Trained under her guru Vikram Singhe[9] Sangeet Natak Akademi, and Kapila Raj[10] as well as Ram Mohan Mishra [11] for 13 years at Kathak Kendra Lucknow.

Career

She is a senior member of the Imperial Society of Teachers of Dancing, U.K. and a graded member of the Indian Council for Cultural Relations. She has designed and executed workshops for institutes such as Oxford University, Birmingham University and Bradford University.[12] [13] Pali Chandra’s Kathak dance portal learnkathakonline has 300,000 subscriptions in the last 4 years.

The first of 4 Gurukul Studios[14] was founded in 2008 in Dubai[15] where Pali Chandra is a guru, mentor and guide to 550 students learning and performing Kathak whilst following the ISTD - UK (Imperial Society for Teachers of Dancing - United Kingdom)  syllabus.  Besides providing dance training, she is the Founder and artistic director of Swiss International Kathak Festival[16] (2019), 11 Dance Festivals called Dancing Divas (2009-2019) and several production in UK, UAE and India.

Under the banner of Pali Peacocks,[17] UK, Pali has been honored at the House of Commons in London as the Best Art Director for her production ‘In the Shadow of the Hills´. The Arts Council of England and London Arts Board,[18] amongst other Institutions & Organizations, have frequently funded her projects.[19]

Social Activist

Pali Chandra is known for her contribution to the society and environment and has taken several charity initiatives since 1995. From awareness programs on people with special needs[20] to the homeless of Harrow in UK. From giving company to the lonely in old age homes of Belmont Elderly Centre to dancing with the physically challenged of Aspire, Stanmore. She has organised fundraisers in Dubai, Bangalore and Chennai. Pali has led several projects to help raise awareness towards the environment like Ganges to Thames and Continental Shift and is now working towards a series of production aimed at empowering women.

In Dubai, she has worked closely with the management of SNF (Special Needs Foundation) and Al Noor to raise awareness and funds.

Productions and Choreographies

Awards

! Title!Issued by!Country!Year
Kathak AmbassadorAsian Community Arts & Katha UK House of Lords London Parliament, England2018
Best Art Director " Production 'In The Shadow Of The Hills’Millennium Dome LondonHouse of the Commons London England2000
Cultural AmbassadorThe Indian Consulate UAEDubai, UAE2016
Successful Art Business Award ICS  Women's ForumDubai, UAE2014
International Woman of the Excellence AwardDhwaniAbhu Dhabi, UAE2013
Gold Medalist Prayag Sangeet SamitiPrayag Sangeet SamitiIndia1990
Lacchu Maharaja Award for AbhinayaKadambari Kala Parishad India1991

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Review and described Online Engagement.
  2. News: MY JOURNEY FROM DANCER TO PERFORMER TO MENTOR. Education UAE Magazine.
  3. Web site: Learn Kathak Online.
  4. News: MY JOURNEY FROM DANCER TO PERFORMER TO MENTOR. Education UAE Magazine.
  5. Web site: Natyasutra - Insoiration of Pali Chandra.
  6. Web site: Graded Member ICCR.
  7. Web site: About Gaddi Community of Himachal Pradesh. Discoveredindia.com. 2015-12-11.
  8. Web site: Born to dance. 2012-08-15. 2015-12-11. The Hindu.
  9. Book: Kathak, Indian Classical Dance Art. Sunil Kothari. 1989. 32. Abhinav Publications . 9788170172239. 2015-12-11.
  10. Web site: Kapila Raj (Sharma) A Legendary Kathak Dancer. - Apni Maati: Personality. 2012-03-03. Spicmacay.apnimaati.com. 2015-12-11.
  11. Web site: Behance. Behance.net. 2015-12-11.
  12. News: I am a keeper of art. The Hindu.
  13. News: Passing the Torch. The National.
  14. News: Kathak goes Global. The Hindu.
  15. News: Dance like a dream. Khaleej Times.
  16. News: Die indische Choreografin Pali Chandra bringt die bunte Welt Indiens mitten in den Aargau. Aargauer Zeitung.
  17. News: Schools presents classic Hindi Tale. Harrow Times.
  18. Web site: Touring details UK - Production.
  19. News: The eight forms of She. Time of India.
  20. News: WHo said the blind cant dance. Khaleej Times.