Sucheta Bhide

🪔 About

Sucheta Bhide Chapekar, born on December 6, 1948, is a distinguished Indian classical dancer, choreographer, and exponent of Bharatanatyam. She began her Bharatanatyam training at a young age, completing her arangetram at 15 in 1963. Her initial training was under Bharatanatyam stalwarts Acharya Parvati Kumar and K.P. Kittappa Pillai. She also received eight years of training in Carnatic music under Thailambal Krishnan. Bhide Chapekar pursued academic excellence, earning a Master of Fine Arts (Dance) from the University of Mumbai and a PhD from Sir J.J. Institute of Applied Arts. After marrying academician Dr. Vijaykumar Chapekar in 1974, she moved to Pune. Recognizing the limited following for Bharatanatyam in Maharashtra due to its strong connection with South Indian languages and Carnatic music, she pioneered "Nritya Ganga" in the 1980s. This innovative Bharatanatyam concert series incorporates Hindustani classical music, Marathi, and Hindi compositions, making the art form more accessible to wider Indian audiences. Her repertoire for Nritya Ganga includes over 75 compositions. In 1988, Sucheta Bhide Chapekar founded the Kalavardhini Charitable Trust in Pune, dedicated to the teaching and propagation of classical dance. Kalavardhini offers a structured five-year certificate course and a two-year advanced course, with its curriculum taught at over 30 institutions across Maharashtra and Goa. She is also a visiting lecturer at Pune University and has guided doctoral research in dance. Her contributions extend to research, particularly on Marathi compositions of Tanjore Maratha rulers, and she has authored the Marathi book 'Nrityatmika', which was later translated into English. Awards & Honours: Sangeet Natak Akademi Award (2007), Maharashtra Gaurav Award (1993), Nritya Vilas award (1993), Pandita Rohini Bhate Award (2015), S.L. Gadre Award, Mahila-Jeevan Gourav Award (Life Time Achievement Award), Pune's Pride, Shreshtha Kala Pracharak, Master Deenanath Mangeshkar Award for music and art (2019).