Trinetra Chhau Dance Centre

🪔 About

Gopal Prasad Dubey (1957-2022) was a distinguished Indian classical dancer, widely recognized for his mastery of the Seraikella variant of Chhau dance. Born on June 25, 1957, in Seraikella, Bihar (now Jharkhand), he began his Chhau training at the age of 14. He received tutelage from renowned gurus such as Padma Shri awardees Rajkumar S. N. Singhdeo and Kedar Nath Sahoo, as well as Natasekhar Banbihari Pattanayak. Dubey also undertook training in New York with a grant from the Asian Cultural Council. In 1985, Dubey founded the Trinetra Chhau Dance Centre, an institution dedicated to promoting and preserving Chhau dance. Through Trinetra, he performed globally and worked as a faculty member for dance at Panjab University, Chandigarh. He also collaborated with international universities including the University of Kansas, Indiana University of Pennsylvania, Harvard University, and the University of London. Dubey was known for incorporating modern storytelling techniques into his choreographies, blending traditional Chhau with contemporary elements to appeal to a broader audience while maintaining the dance form's authenticity. He continued to perform and teach Seraikella Chhau at his centers in Seraikella and Bangalore. Considered a leading exponent of Seraikella Chhau, Dubey was honored with the Padma Shri, India's fourth-highest civilian award, in 2012. He passed away on November 14, 2022, at the age of 65. Awards & Honours: Padma Shri (2012), Sangeet Natak Akademi Award (2016), Lifetime Achievement Award (2017), Vocational Achievement Award, Jharkhand State Award (2007), Suvarna Shankhu (2010), Natya Shri (2010), Golden Conch (2010), Senior Fellowship, Natya Tarang Puraskar, Natya Keerthi Shikha Puraskar, Natya Veda Puraskar.