Owner

( Hind Ratna Awardee by late president of india, Hon. A P J Abdul Kalam in 2003. )

Drum Café (India and UAE) and RK Dance Theatre Inc.

A Classical Kathak exponent, one of the most powerful and compelling dancers internationally,hails from a family of dancers and musicians for the last 9 generations in the Jaipur Gharana. I am the eighth generation in this lineage. I have acquired my training under the able guidance of Nritya Acharya Guru Ganesh Hiralal Hasal, who is considered as an authority today from the Jaipur Gharana School of Teaching.

I have worked very closely with the Government of India (ICCR-Delhi), (ICC –Indian Cultural Centre- Johannesburg South Africa), (Indian High commission and Indian Consulate) for 15 years.

I have participated in several International Dance Conferences and have given various in depth lectures on Dance in various Universities and Dance Institutions. I have done a lot of research and collaborative work with India, South Africa and abroad related to the field of Dance and Music.

Achievements

1. State and National level Gold Medalist (twice) in Kathak for IIT Fest – Mood Indigo –Powai and Malhar – St Xavier’s College Mumbai in the years – 1986,1987 and 1988.
2. Honoured with Dhaymanti Joshi- Menaka Trophy for the Best Dancer in Maharashtra in the year 1986 and 1987.
3. HIND RATNA AWARD in 2003 by honourable Late president Dr A P J Abdul Kalam in the first pravasi festival in Delhi.
4. Honoured with Nritya Vidh Award in 2011 and 2012 by Sarfojiraje Bhosale Institute (Mumbai)
5. Honoured by Bhakti Kala (ISCKON – 1992)
6. Honoured by ICCR (Delhi -2005) for producing the First African Classical Kathak Dancer in the world.
7. Honoured by both South African and Indian Government for my immense work in African townships in uniting Indo-Afro Culture.
8. Honoured for my 15 years of service in Delhi ICCR, Collaboration with Government of India.
9. Honoured , Felicitated and featured and performed in the classical , semi-classical ,jazz, hip-hop, contemporary ,fusion work, tap,gumboot dancing,flamingo dancing and many other known forms.

Major Contributions

1. Presenting persevering and innovating traditional Jaipur Gharana style of Dancing for the last 9 generations.
2. I am the one and only person to have taken Classical Kathak Dancing to South Africa and popularised it to the masses at large by teaching in the African townships.
3. I have produced the FIRST ever African Classical Kathak Dancer in the world (Jaipur Gharana style).
4. 25 Years of Collaborative work with ICCR –Government of India.
5. Research work on PARAMPARA, DHAROHAR and Rhythmic Cycles under the able guidance of Nritya Acharya Guru Ganesh Hiralal Hasal.
6. I have trained 36 qualified Kathak Dance Graduates Internationally.
7. Owner and Director of Drum Café(India) World’s No.1 International Drumming Company which is present in 28 countries Worldwide.

Performances – National and International Festivals:

1. Swami Haridas Festival (Delhi)
2. Jaipur Festival(Rajasthan)
3. Vividh Kala Mahotsav (Maharashtra)
4. Indra Dhanush Festival 2012 and 2013
5. Sarfojiraje Bhosale Festival (Maharashtra-Mumbai )
6. BRICS Conference 2016(Mumbai)
7. Prabhupadha Kala Paksha Festival
8. Vrindavan ISCKON Festival
9. Bhakti Kala Kshetra ( Sampurna- Kala Paksha Festival )
10. ISCKON International Ratha –Yatra Festival (Entire India , Europe, & USA)
11. Woodstock Festival ( Europe and East European Block)
12. Performed for most of the fortune 500 companies world wide
13. Performed for GIMA (Global Indian Music Awards )2016
14. Sa Re Ga Ma Pa work for Zee TV International
15. Six World Tours with ISCKON
16. Performed at IPl (Indian Premier League), FIFA 2010

Various Positions that I hold

1. Director of R.K Dance Theatre Inc- (South Africa and India)
2. Chairman for Savio’s Alumni Trust (Mumbai)
3. Vice Chairman and Founder of Mumbai Kathak Kendra
4. Director and Co-Owner of Drum Café (India and UAE) World’s No.1 Interactive Drumming Company.
5. Artistic Director For all the above mentioned Institutions.
6. Vice Chairman for Sangeet aur Nritya Academy.
7. Jury Member of CCRT.
8. Resident kathak teacher at INDIAN CULTURE CENTRE Johannesburg ( South Africa ).
9. Jury member of the first ever and biggest Indian singing reality show sa re ga ma pa 2016 / 17.