Ishira Parikh

🪔 About

Ishira Parikh is a distinguished Indian classical Kathak dancer, born on March 11, 1962, in Mumbai, Maharashtra. She received her extensive Kathak training under the tutelage of Shrimati Kumudini Lakhia at Kadamb in Ahmedabad. Parikh has established a significant career, performing nationally and internationally, and has showcased her duet and choreographic presentations in over forty countries. She frequently performs alongside Maulik Shah, with whom she shares a notable artistic partnership. Parikh is a co-founder of the Anart Foundation, a cultural institution based in Ahmedabad, Gujarat, which plays a crucial role in enriching the cultural landscape by organizing workshops and providing financial support to emerging talent. She also leads the Maulik Shah & Ishira Parikh Dance Class in Bodakdev, Ahmedabad, established in 1994, which focuses on Kathak training. Her contributions to Kathak dance have been widely recognized, earning her several prestigious awards. As a guru, Ishira Parikh has significantly contributed to the teaching legacy of Kathak. Her students include Kadam Parikh, who received formal training from her and Maulik Shah and is now a lead dancer with Aanart Dance Company and faculty at Aanart School of Kathak Dance. Other dancers, such as Raina Parikh, Naisargi, Priyanka, Yesha, Pankhi, and Pari, have also performed under her guidance and mentorship within the Anart Foundation's framework. Awards & Honours: Sangeet Natak Akademi Award (2018), Gaurav Puraskar, Sringarmani, SNA Fellowship.