Isha Kathavate

🪔 About

Isha Kathavate is a versatile Indian classical dance figure, renowned as a Kathak dancer, teacher, choreographer, researcher, and writer. For over two decades, she has been under the tutelage of Kathak exponent Pandita Guru Maneesha Sathe, a torchbearer of Padmashree Pt. Gopi Krishnaji's Kathak style, having commenced her training at the age of eight. Kathavate holds an M.A. in Kathak from Tilak Maharashtra Vidyapeeth and is a Nritya Alankar from ABGMV. She is the founder of Ishalaya School of Kathak, established in August 2005, with branches in Pune and Mumbai, which has successfully completed 20 years. The school aims to impart rigorous and technically sound Kathak education, preparing disciples for a career in dance. As a soloist, Isha Kathavate has performed at prestigious festivals across India, including the Kinkini Festival in Mumbai, Haridas Sangeet Samaroha in Mumbai, Sri Sumukhi Rajshekharan Foundation in Chennai, Cuttack Dance Festival, Girnar Festival in Junagadh, and Nalanda Nrityotsav in Mumbai. She is also an accomplished choreographer, creating works that span traditional to contemporary themes such as 'Emergence…where fear ends,' 'Spanda: the meditative pulse,' and 'Inspiration.' Doordarshan Prasar Bharati, Delhi, selected and recorded three of her traditional choreographies for the ABU, AIDF Festival. Kathavate has also published a solo choreographic video production based on Lang Leav's poetry, 'The Rose,' on her YouTube channel. She has presented papers on 'The Changing Trends in Kathak Choreography and their Challenges' at various international research seminars. Awards & Honours: Singarmani award, Pandit Vishnu Digambar Paluskar award, Junior Research Fellowship, Grade 'A' Artist.