Poornima Roy

🪔 About

Purnima Roy Chowdhury is a distinguished Kathak dancer, recognized as a fine young exponent of the Jaipur Gharana, one of the prominent styles of Kathak known for its intricate footwork and graceful movements. Her foundational training in Kathak was meticulously imparted by Guru Nandini Singh of the esteemed Jaipur Gharana, under whose guidance she honed her skills and artistic expression. As a senior disciple, Purnima Roy Chowdhury has deeply imbibed the nuances and traditions of this classical dance form. Throughout her career, Purnima Roy Chowdhury has graced numerous prestigious stages, demonstrating her mastery and dedication to Kathak. She has notably performed leading roles in various elaborate dance dramas produced by the Shriram Bhartiya Kala Kendra (SBKK), an institution renowned for its contributions to Indian performing arts. Her performances are characterized by precision, emotive storytelling (abhinay), and rhythmic prowess. A significant highlight of her performance career includes a captivating Kathak duet with Leena Malakar Vij at the India International Centre's annual dance festival, Varsha Ritu. During this festival, they presented a comprehensive repertoire that included traditional Kathak elements such as Ganesh Vandana, Thaat, Aamad, Tode Tukde, Paran, and Chakkardar, performed with utmost precision in Teentala. Furthermore, their artistic creativity was evident in their self-choreographed compositions, including "Ardha-Nareeshwar" and a Megh-Malhar bandish, which showcased their abhinay (expressive) capabilities. The live musical accompaniment, featuring artists like Babar Latif Khan on Tabla, Shoaib Hasan on vocal, and Akram Hussain on Sarangi, further enhanced their impressive performance. Purnima Roy Chowdhury's talent and commitment to Kathak have been formally recognized. She is a recipient of a National Scholarship awarded by the Union Ministry of Culture, Government of India, a testament to her artistic merit and potential. Additionally, she is an empanelled artiste of the Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR), an honor that facilitates her representation of Indian culture through dance on both national and international platforms. Based in Delhi, Purnima Roy Chowdhury continues to be an active and respected figure in the Indian classical dance community, contributing to the preservation and promotion of Kathak. Awards & Honours: National Scholarship, Empanelled Artiste.