Asha Joglekar

🪔 About

Guru Asha Joglekar, born Nandini Joshi on September 10, 1936, in Wai, India, was a distinguished figure in Indian classical Kathak dance. Her early life was steeped in arts, with her grandfather being a Kirtankaar and her mother a singer. Joglekar began her Kathak training under Guru Hiralal Jai and Guru Jayashree Kirtane. She later pursued advanced studies with eminent gurus such as Padmashree Gopi Krishna, Pandita Rohini Bhate, Nataraj Gopikrishna, Savitri Devi, Guru Ramadevi Lachchu Maharaj, and Pt Ramdasji Sharma. This comprehensive training allowed her to imbibe and blend the distinct characteristics of the Lucknow, Jaipur, and Banaras Gharanas into a unique and complete Kathak style. On August 15, 1963, Asha Joglekar, with the support of her husband Shri Anant Joglekar, founded Archana Nrityalaya in India. The academy quickly gained a reputation for its rigorous training and in-depth knowledge of Kathak. Joglekar dedicated over five decades to teaching, grooming generations of dancers, many of whom pursued dance professionally. She, along with her senior disciple and daughter Archana Joglekar, meticulously developed a comprehensive curriculum for Archana Nrityalaya, covering beginner to master's levels, which also incorporated the syllabus of Akhil Bharatiya Gandharva Mahavidyalaya Mandal (ABGMM). Beyond her role as a guru, Asha Joglekar was an active contributor to the dance community. She served as a judge on the Maharashtra Film Festival panel, was the Secretary of the Dancers' Guild of Bombay for a decade, and judged the 'Kal-ke-Kalakar' music conference since 1990. She was also a senior examiner for dance examinations at Pune University, Akhil Bharatiya Gandharva Mahavidyalaya Mandal, and Kathak Kendra, Jaipur. Her scholarly contributions include being instrumental in the Marathi translations of Bharata Muni's Natya Sastra and Nandikesvara's Abhinaya Darpana. Joglekar's exceptional teaching methodology, which focused on identifying and enhancing each student's strengths, combined with her profound knowledge, made her a beloved and sought-after guru. She passed away on March 18, 2016, leaving behind a rich legacy through her academy and numerous accomplished disciples. Awards & Honours: Sharang Deo Fellowship (1994), Life time achievement award (2005), Maharashtra State Cultural Award, Shringar Mani.