Seema Mehta

🪔 About

Seema Kaushik Mehta, born around 1976, is an accomplished Indian Kathak expert and a jewellery designer. She holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) degree, specializing in painting and sculpture, from the Academy of Art College in San Francisco, California, USA. Mehta's journey in Kathak began after being inspired by Pandit Chitresh Das's performance. She became a disciple of Pandit Chitresh Das in 2010 and continued to train under him until his passing in 2015, having practiced Kathak with him since 2000. Her training encompasses the Lucknow and Jaipur gharanas of Kathak. In 2010, Seema Mehta co-founded the second branch of Pandit Chitresh Das's institution in India, Chhandam Nritya Bharati, in Mumbai. She serves as the Director of Chhandam Nritya Bharati, India, which has centers in Mumbai and Kolkata and teaches over 150 students. Mehta is a dedicated teacher, particularly known for her work with underprivileged children in Mumbai, where she teaches Kathak through organizations like the Akanksha and SMILE Foundations. She has also worked with children in Kolkata's red light areas as part of the New Light Project, empowering them through dance. Her debut Kathak solo performance took place at the NCPA in Mumbai in January 2009. Mehta is an expert practitioner of Kathak Yoga, an innovative technique developed by Pt. Das, where the dancer simultaneously sings, plays the harmonium, and performs complex Kathak compositions. For her significant contributions to women's empowerment through dance, Seema Mehta was honored with the Nari Shakti Puraskar award in 2019 (for the year 2018), the highest civilian honor for women in India. She was the first woman to receive this award for her work in a performing art. Beyond her dance career, Mehta is also the Creative Director of Kirtilals, a jewellery company founded by her grandfather. Awards & Honours: Nari Shakti Puraskar (2019).