M. Chawla

🪔 About

Mehak Chawla is an accomplished Indian classical dancer and Bharatanatyam exponent. Her journey in dance commenced at the tender age of seven, culminating in her becoming a dedicated disciple of renowned dancer Geeta Chandran. Chawla has been training under Chandran's tutelage at Natya Vriksha since 2017, deepening her understanding and essence of the art form. Further enriching her classical repertoire, she undertook intensive training in Kudiyattam, an ancient Sanskrit theatre tradition, through a month-long Gurukul Anubhav Scholarship from SPIC MACAY, studying under Guru Margi Madhu Chakyar. With over eleven years of experience, Mehak Chawla has established herself as a dedicated teacher of Indian Classical Dance across various schools and institutes. She currently imparts her knowledge and passion for dance at the Ambience Public School in Safdarjung Enclave, Delhi. Her expertise in the field is further recognized through her role as an examiner with the Akhil Bhartiya Gandharva Mahavidyalaya Mandal, Mumbai, a position she has held since 2012. A significant milestone in her career was her Bharatanatyam Arangetram, a traditional debut solo performance, where she presented a repertoire including a Pushpanjali, Alarippu, Jatiswaram, and Varnam. She has also graced prestigious stages, notably performing at the Brihadeeswarar Temple during the Nata Anjali Festival, an experience she described as "beautiful" and "warm" under the moonlight. Beyond performing and teaching, Chawla is an active art educator, delivering insightful lectures on Indian Classical Arts and Dance, exploring their history, aesthetics, and contextualization, and emphasizing the guru-shishya parampara. Academically, Mehak Chawla possesses a comprehensive educational background, including a Bachelor's degree in BCA, GDIT, and both a B.A. and M.A. in Dance. Demonstrating her commitment to holistic well-being and cultural understanding, she also holds a Post Graduate Diploma in Yogic Science, a Post Graduate Diploma in Cultural Management (PGDCM), and has completed Foundation and Certificate courses in "Yogasana" and "Pranayama & Meditation" from the Morarji Desai National Institute of Yoga under the Ministry of Ayush. Awards & Honours: Venkatraman Iyer Award of Excellence, Gurukul Anubhav Scholarship – SPIC MACAY.