Poonam Tai

🪔 About

Poonam Gandhi, affectionately known as Poonam Tai, is a distinguished Indian classical Kathak dancer and a senior teacher at Maneesha Nrityalaya in Pune, India. Her Kathak journey commenced in 1976 under the tutelage of Guru Pandita Maneesha Sathe, making her one of the initial students of Maneesha Nrityalaya. She holds a Nritya Visharad in Kathak from Akhil Bharatiya Gandharva Mahavidyalaya, alongside a Bachelor's degree in Commerce and a Master's degree in Social Work from Pune University. With nearly 40 years of teaching experience, Poonam Tai has been an integral part of Maneesha Nrityalaya since its inception, contributing significantly as a performer, choreographer, and dance director. She has performed extensively in India and the USA with Guru Maneesha Tai, participating in numerous youth festivals across the country. A notable highlight of her performing career includes a performance in the presence of her Dada Guru, Pandit Gopi Krishnaji, in Pune during the late 1980s. She began performing on stage in the late 1970s alongside Maneesha Tai and continued actively until the late 1990s, with a particular affinity for the Abhinay paksha (expressive aspect) of Kathak. Beyond her dance career, she has also established herself as an experienced anchor for dance and music events and has conducted lecture demonstrations, including one for the Maharashtra State Cultural Department.