User:Ashwani Nigam/sandbox

Ashwani Nigam Ashwani Nigam is a gifted Kathak dancer and teacher, the founder of a leading dance school “Tarang' active member of “Nritya Sabha” Foundation. He started learning Tabla (an Indian percussion instrument) when he was seven years old. His first teacher Late Shri Fakir Chand Mathur invited him to learn Kathak Dance after feeling his ambition to learn dance. He Passed Prabhakar Degree in Tabla from Prayag Sangeet Samiti Allahabad in 1980 in first division and Kathak dance in 1981 also first division with distinction in Practical Examination in both subjects. He has also done diploma course in North Indian Classical Vocal and Violin side by side his regular Study of Diploma in Mechanical Engineering from Allahabad Polytechnic.

Although after passing Engineering he joined a Japanese company, he also joined Padam Shri Guru Shovna Narayan and learned art of Kathak choreography. He also actively participated in many of her choreographies.

In 1987 he joined Gandharva Maha Vidyalya Delhi under guru Satish Shukla and 1988 he joined Shri Ram Bhartiya Kala Kendra Delhi under Guru Ram Mohan Maharaj, who is younger son of Late Shri Shambhu Maharaj. He learned Kathak Lucknow style from him for more than 4 years. In 1992 he joined Kathak Kendra Delhi under Guru Munna Lal Shukla. During his 2 years Professional course under Guru Munna Lal Shukla, Padam Vibhushan Pundit Birju Maharaj, who was chief Choreographer and head of Kathak Kendra repertoire selected him to work under his capable guidance. Ashwani Nigam was lucky enough to work and learn Kathak under this legendary Kathak exponent. In 4 years of his Kathak Kendra course he performed in number of his choreographies.

In 1996 Ashwani Nigam was selected by Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR) Government of India to represent India and its culture in Indian cultural Center namely Jawaharlal Nehru Cultural Center in Moscow. He completed his 3 year in JNCC and in 1999 he organized his own school in Moscow "Tarang". where he prepared potential dancer and choreographers of Kathak. During his time as dance choreographers he create numbers of dance-drama. Rag-Rang, Meera, Krishnayan, Devi, Ramayana are some of well known dance drama in which more than 50 Russian artists took part on one stages.

He also took part in different parade devoted to different Russian and Indian government occasions and festivals. I became the First Indian Dance Drama Director in the history of Russia, who create one our Dance Drama "PADMINI" at School of Dramatic Culture Moscow with live music and singing. He himself played role of Allaudin Khilji in the Drama. Professional Russian singers and instrumentalist performed excellent job under his guidance.

He, in past 23 years of his teaching period, travelled more than 40 cities of Russia and gave master classes. His more than 15 students now have their own dance groups which are growing and producing Indian classical ,folk and Bollywood performance. He continues his teaching and work of spreading Indian culture and dance in Russia.