Dr. Meenakshi Iyer Gangopadhyay

🪔 About

Dr. Meenakshi Iyer Gangopadhyay is a distinguished figure in Indian classical dance, primarily recognized as a practitioner of Bharatanatyam, and also associated with Mohiniyattam. She holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts (Dance) (1993), Master of Fine Arts (Dance) (1995), and a PhD in Dance (2002), all from the University of Mumbai. Her academic credentials also include a Bachelor of Commerce (1988), Master of Commerce (1991), a Diploma in Sanskrit (1997), and a Master of Arts (Indology) (2020), all from the University of Mumbai. She also qualified for UGC-NET in 1996. Dr. Gangopadhyay has been an integral part of the Nalanda Nritya Kala Mahavidyalaya in Mumbai since 1995, initially joining as an Assistant Professor (Dance) and currently serving as a Professor (Dance) and Head of the Department (Dance). Her leadership extends to being the Chairperson of the Adhoc Board of Studies (Dance) and a Member of the Academic Council at the University of Mumbai. As a versatile artist, she has performed as a Nattuvanar, choreographed numerous Bharatanatyam solo pieces and dance-dramas, and contributed as a dance critic to 'Sruti', India's premier performing arts magazine. She was also part of the team that worked on the "Synergy Between Education and Culture" project for the Ministry of Culture from 2010 to 2011. Dr. Gangopadhyay is an active academician and research scholar, having guided 14 students in research and published several research papers and book chapters on various aspects of Indian classical dance. She frequently conducts workshops, such as "Learning through Movement: Dance and Expression in Early Music Education" for teachers across multiple Indian states. Awards & Honours: Kanaka Nartana Puraskar (2021), Dance India Exponent Award (2023).