Papiha Desai

🪔 About

Papiha Desai is a distinguished Indian classical dancer and choreographer, recognized particularly for her contributions to Odissi and her leadership of the Indian Revival Group. She is the daughter of the celebrated choreographer Yog Sunder Desai, a pioneer in Indian dance who was honored with the prestigious Sangeet Natak Akademi Puruskar. Papiha Desai has received intensive training in traditional Indian dance forms under various great masters. Over the past two decades, she has developed a remarkable body of choreographic work, showcasing her creative vision and deep understanding of classical dance. As the head of the Indian Revival Group, a premier dance ensemble established by her father over seven decades ago, Papiha Desai continues to uphold and further its legacy. The group has an extensive history, having performed in over 5000 shows and undertaken 250 tours across India, in addition to representing the country as an official cultural delegation abroad, including recent tours to France, Morocco, and Italy. Papiha Desai is an accomplished Odissi exponent and has been instrumental in productions that incorporate a diverse range of Indian dance forms, including five classical and several regional styles. She co-choreographs significant productions, such as “The Wonder that is India” and the dance theatre piece “Ek Tha Raja,” which explores historical narratives. Her work with the Indian Revival Group is dedicated to promoting India's rich multicultural heritage, mythology, philosophy, and glory.