Yogini Gandhi

🪔 About

Yogini Gandhi is a distinguished Indian classical dancer, celebrated for her mastery of both Kathak and Odissi dance forms. Born in Mumbai, she began her Kathak training at the age of four with Malti Pande. At eight, after moving to Pune, she continued her Kathak studies at Kala Chhaya under Prabha Marathe. Her dedication to dance led her parents to homeschool her, allowing her to further hone her skills at Kala Chhaya for a decade. She also received invaluable guidance in Kathak from the legendary maestro Pt. Birju Maharaj. In the mid-1980s, Gandhi developed a profound interest in Odissi after witnessing performances by Sanjukta Panigrahi and her guru, Kelucharan Mohapatra. Within a few years, she commenced her Odissi training under Shri Natbar Maharana in Mumbai and later with Guru Kelucharan Mohapatra at the National Centre for the Performing Arts (NCPA) in Mumbai, also traveling to Odisha to deepen her expertise. As a professional performer, Yogini Gandhi has toured extensively, including in Sweden, Denmark, Norway, Switzerland, and England, captivating audiences and critics alike. She is also a prolific choreographer, creating solo and group pieces in both Kathak and Odissi, such as "Aakhyaan," "Dashavtaar," "Swarakriti," and "Vande Mataram." Her collaborative works include "Trividha" and "Advait" in Kathak, and "Triveni" with Bharatanatyam dancer Sucheta Chapekar. Gandhi founded Kalanidhi, an institute dedicated to promoting and nurturing Indian classical music and dance, where she imparts training in Kathak and Odissi. Beyond Kalanidhi, she has served as a faculty member at Savitribai Phule Pune University's Lalit Kala Kendra and as a visiting Kathak professor and performer at the Berklee College of Music, Boston. Awards & Honours: Singar Mani, Outstanding Young Person.