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Pushkala Gopal

Pushkala Gopal
Pushkala Gopal, MBE is a pioneering and veteran Guru of Bharatanatyam based in London, U.K. In 1974, Pushkala Gopal gained a BA Honours degree in Mathematics and Economics. She was awarded a postgraduate diploma in Bharatanatyam in 1977 by the Ministry of Education, India. In 1983, awarded the British Council Fellowship Pushkala spent a year at Trent Park studying western techniques of theatre, dance and education. She has pioneered several education projects nationally. Pushkala makes regular appearances in Master classes, lectures and performances in India and other parts of the world. Since 1977, she has worked as a freelance performer, lecturer teacher, choreographer, writer, consultant, and composer.

Productions and Creations

 * Production, performance and touring of dance theatre work including Adventures of Mowgli and Return of Spring as Artistic Director of Akademi 1985-87.
 * As Director of Mudralaya, created and performed in Tapestry of Tales, Beauty and the Beast, Twilight, Taming of the Shrew, Shanti and Secret of Life.


 * Commissioned to create a dance piece Queen’s inauguration of the Nehru Gallery at the Victoria and Albert Museum.


 * Featured in several performances at the Nehru Centre, London.


 * Choreographer and Director of Devi Diva for North West dance Alliance, 2005.


 * Created, conceived, composed and choreographed many dance and music pieces.

Education Work

 * Lectured at the Laban Centre’s Community dance MA, Surrey University’s dance graduate and postgraduate programmes, Middlesex University’s dance and music degree modules and Goldsmith College’s Drama course


 * Taught regularly at summer schools in US and Europe.


 * Assistant Director in Akademi’s Coming of Age project at the Southbank Centre, 2001.


 * Served as senior monitoring examiner and vice chair of South Asian Dance faculty


 * Played an active role in formulating Bharatanatyam syllabus for ISTD Imperial Society of Teachers of Dancing.


 * Several students have completed their Arangetram in Bharatanatyam and Carnatic vocal under the tutelage of Pushkala Gopal

Recognition and Awards

 * National Scholarship for Advanced training in Bharatanatyam, Ministry of Education, India - 1975


 * Singar Mani, title from Sur Singar Samsad, Bombay - 1977


 * Natya Purna award from Bharatakalanjali, Chennai - 1979


 * British Council Fellowship - 1983


 * Time Out Dance Award - 1988


 * Digital dance award - 1988


 * Gulbenkin award for musical studies -1992


 * Arts Council and Milap Fest award for Distinguished services in the field of Bharatanatyam - 2015


 * MBE, Member of British Empire for outstanding and exemplary achievement in service to the community - 2020