EARLY LIFE & WORK EXPERIENCE

Coming from a middle-class family, I’ve always wanted to be a kathak and vocal artist since childhood. It was not just my dream but also a goal that I had set since the age of 10. However, it was all determination. Still I missed out on being successful as this dream seems a bit difficult to come true. It was a very difficult time for me because suddenly I lost my mother, she was just 36 years old. It was difficult to recover from this dire situation. Still I did not give up and tried one more time to achieve my goal. .

I belong to Banaras, which is a beautiful city and the capital of Indian Classical Dance and Classical Music – this helped me get wings because around me were the same determined people. Walking forward in life with an aim to take India’s true dance form & Hindustani Classical Singing forward with purity.

I started my career toward becoming a famous artist and entrepreneur in the year 2000. Later, I pursued my career in kathak and vocal along with studying the same at BHU and from vocal and Kathak gurus till the year 2010.

I worked in All India Radio-Akashwani, Varanasi as a singer, announcer and performed as a kathak artist at many music festivals in Banaras. At the same time I was teaching Dance and Music in famous schools like Sun Beam and Little Flower.

I got married in the year 2015 and shifted to Mumbai. Along with my married life followed my dream too. This motivated me to start my very own school in 2016, and I’m currently the same with more than 300+ students in kathak, vocal, tabla, etc.

HER GOAL TOWARDS SHASTRIYA SANGEET & NRITYA

My main goal is to take forward shastriya sangeet & Nritya with purity to this generation, as I’ve learned the same from my gurus. My Vocal Guru is Padma Vibhushan Pt Chhannulal Mishra ji and Kathak Guru Pt. Jaikishan Maharaj Ji ( Son of Kathak Legend Padma Vibhushan Pt Birju Maharaj Ji). I have learned Hindustani Classical Singing and Kathak with purity from these Legends.

Sangeet and Dance these days are mixed with vulgarity where we don’t find “bhartiya nidhi”, which is a pure form of sangeet. Decades ago, shastriya sangeet and Nritya were the epitome of India’s authentic traditions. But the Music and Dance these days are altered in a way, where shastriya sangeet and Nritya are found nowhere. I have been taught by my gurus to take forward this very purity of shastriya sangeet to my students. For example, Lucknow gharana is famous for the nritya which dances through hand gestures. This style has been used in Bollywood Semi-Classical Dance to show the grace of Dance. But sadly we see this dance form imitated in a normal way, keeping aside the true dance form. My only goal is to take forward every such true and pure teaching of my gurus to my students, to honour shastriya sangeet, shastrya nritya and India, whilst taking this form to the very peak of music and dance.

HOW DID SHE TAKE FORWARD SHASTRIYA SANGEET & KATHAK AMIDST

“My feet and Throat would never stop, my hands would never get tired.”

DIVYA DWIVEDI

During the lockdown times, not only did I sharpen my skills but also taught young students shastriya sangeet and Shastriya Nritya(Kathak) lining, in detail, all online. Every student gave in their best and were all engrossed to learn more. This motivated me to learn more so I could teach them with much sharpness. The greatest achievement for me was when my students got amazing results in their exams. The examiner themselves were amazed to know that these students learnt it all online.

HER ACHIEVEMENTS

I’ve done many government shows.

• Banaras – Ganga Mahaotsav, Murari Baapu, Kathak Mahaotsav.
• Singer & Announcer in Radio
• DRM Officer Colony in Banaras – Choreography for government shows.
• For Famous Medical college- Organised top shows for classical dance
• Bharat Vikas Parishad, Rashtriya Seva Yojna, ZEE TV close up antakshri – Participated in them all
• My Biggest Achievement – Started my very own institute in Bombay with 100+ students – all from scratch.
• Awarded by Lions Club – Best Music & Dance Entertainment Appreciation & Award
• Performed and Organized many shows  for Lions Club, Varanasi.
• Organized a show for Reserve Bank of India.
• Rajhans School – Best Judge Award
• IIT Bombay – Judge For 3 Years Award
• NGO’s – Best Judge Award
• Dubai, Nepal – shows and judges for folk dances.
• Judgment in Pillai College of Engineering at Panwel for Folk Dance Competition in February, 2024.

Currently, I’m enacting and teaching in Bollywood Semi-Classical Shows as well as kathak shows along with my classes