kathak dancer performer
The Dancer - An Introduction
Ishwari Deshpande is a dynamic Kathak artist who has gained applause on the global stage and is widely recognised as one of the leading Kathak dancers of her generation. Born in a musical family with an innate passion for Kathak, Ishwari has captivated audiences worldwide.
Since her first performance on stage at the age of 4, Ishwari has had a career of many prestigious events and platforms. Over 25 years of training from her mother, the renowned Kathak artist, Guru Prerana Deshpande, Ishwari has learnt some of the most beautiful and challenging compositions from the repertoire of her guru's lineage. Additionally, her own interpretive choreographies on various themes have gained creative appreciation from dancers, linguists, and theatre scholars alike.
Ishwari has evolved into a dancer of rare grace and creativity. Her performances reflect a maturity that transcends age, balancing classical purity with subtle innovation. She is particularly admired for her clarity in nritta (pure dance), dynamic stage presence especially with live musical accompaniment, and intelligent interpretations of traditional compositions. Ishwari continues to further her art through performance, choreography, and training and mentoring new and advanced dancers. She is also directly affiliated to the world-wide institute Nrityadham, founded by Guru Prerana Deshpande.
Performances
Ishwari has had a long performance career since her childhood when she was first hailed as a child prodigy. Having performed solo at illustrious venues and platforms in India like Bharat Bhavan Bhopal, IIC New Delhi, Kathak Mahotsav, NCPA, Goa Kala Academy, Jaipur, and many more, Ishwari has garnered high praise at various venues across India. Internationally, Ishwari's dance has enraptured audiences' in USA, Canada, Southern and Eastern Africa. Some notable platforms are Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre (NYC), LearnQuest Festival (Boston), MIT Killian Hall (Cambridge), and some diplomatic offices.
Ishwari's performances have had not only audience appeal, but critical appreciation as well. Senior Gurus and maestros from the field of Indian dance and music have praised and recognised her talents since childhood, continuing to do so even today. She has also received exceptionally noteworthy reviews from renowned dance critic and scholar, Padma Shri Dr Sunil Kothari.
Honours
At 10 years of age, Ishwari won the prominent Pt Vishnu Digambar Paluskar prize for Kathak.
In 2008 at age 12, Ishwari was awarded the First Prize of 'Best Young Dancer' title by the legendary Padma Vibhushan Pt Birju Maharaj in Kolkata in the presence of then Governor Hon'ble Gopalkrishna Gandhi. This Golden Talent Contest by Pt Ravi Kichlu Foundation was also adjudged by senior veteran artists like Vidushi Girija Devi, Vidushi Saswati Sen among others. This title earned Ishwari encouragement and confidence in further pursuing her passion for Kathak. She also continued to earn praise and encouragement from from Pt Birju Maharaj ji for many years till 2017 through her performances under Kalashram.
In 2017, she received the Taal Tapasvi Pt Madhukar Kothare Smruti Uttung Dance Scholarship, and in 2018, she was awarded the prestigious CCRT Scholarship by the Government of India to further her career in dance. A Doordarshan Graded Artist, Ishwari was also admitted to the highly selective Young India Fellowship programme (Ashoka University) in 2017 for her aim to pursue multidisciplinary studies to enhance her artistic pursuits.
Background and Training
Born in 1996 in Pune into a family of artists, Ishwari's connection to classical dance and music was always a natural calling. She is the daughter of internationally acclaimed Kathak artist, Guru Prerana Deshpande. Her father is the renowned Tabla virtuoso Pt Supreet Deshpande. Her grandfather is one of the most prolific Tabla artists and classical vocalists of his time, Pt Kiran Deshpande. Pt S. B. Deshpande, her great-grandfather was a pioneer of Indian classical music and co-founder of the Bhatkhande Sangeet Vidyalaya in Jabalpur, while her great-granduncle was a co-founder of Gandharva Sangeet Mahavidyalaya. With more senior relatives actively involved in the arts, Ishwari's childhood created the foundation of a passion not just for Kathak, but of the substance and essence of Indian arts.
Ishwari inherited her love for Kathak from her mother, Prerana. In her very early years, she spent time in the background of Prerana's trainings with her Guru, the legendary Kathak artist Pta Dr Rohini Bhate in Pune. Thus, Guru Rohini Bhate's blessings and encouragement were bestowed upon her very early on. She also frequented dance events, observing some of the topmost artists like the legend Padma Vibhushan Pt Birju Maharaj, Taalyogi Pt Suresh Talwalkar, Guru Shama Bhate, all of whom have observed and blessed Ishwari's talent since childhood.
Ishwari's rigorous training under Guru Prerana has evolved over 25 years from technique and precision to grace, aesthetics, rhythmic complexity, emotive expression, and creative thought process. Ishwari has also sought versatile inspiration through workshops by maestros like Pt Birju Maharaj ji, Akram Khan's Classical Intensive (London), Pt Suresh Talwalkar, Guru Shama Bhate, Ustad Taufiq Qureshi, Shri Jayant Kastuar, Guru Prerana Shrimali among others. Ishwari has had intense and immersive training and guidance from Guru Prerana that has allowed her to blossom into a full-fledged artist. Her exposure and observation of a vast variety of other Gurus and dancers has allowed her perspective to broaden and blossom into a dedicated Kathak artists of the new generation.
In addition to her intensive training from her Guru, she holds a Masters in Performing Arts in Kathak from Bharati Vidyapeeth, Pune. Beyond Kathak, Ishwari also holds a Master of Behavioural and Decision Sciences from University of Pennsylvania and a Bachelor of Economics from Fergusson College, Pune University.
