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V Anuradha Singh - Kathak Exponent
V. Anuradha Singh[] (Hindi:वी.अनुराधा सिंह) (born 28 August 1972) is a spectacular signature in the field of performing Kathak. From last two decades till now she has been and being highly appreciated for her breathtaking vigorous performance on stage. She belongs to the Raigarh School of Kathak (Hindi:रायगड़ घराना) which was established by the Maharaja Chakradhar Singh in the princely state of Raigarh in present Chhattisgarh in the early 20th century. Though being the first generation danseuse she was a child prodigy in the field of Kathak, she has dedicated herself to perfecting this dance form.Her excellent form of rhythm as well as her natural flair for profound expressions are critically acclaimed by the connoisseurs. She is the only classical dancer of Madhya Pradesh who has performed more than two hundred solo stage performances and spread it in every corners of India and abroad. She made her debut as young age of 17 years in distinguished stage during Festival of India in erstwhile USSR organised by Govt. of India in Moscow in 1987. She has performed at almost all prestigious national and international festivals as a solo performer, all received accolade from the audience

Early life and background
Anuradha was born to Rao Balraj Singh (Retd. Engineer in Chief) on August 28, 1970. She has begun training in Kathak at the tender age of 5. She was a child prodigy and has a natural flare for Kathak. She got admission into a medical college but her love for Kathak dance led her to sacrifice the medicinal science and she decided to go professional in the field of her passion. She got selected by the Kathak Icon Pt.Birju Maharaj [] for scholarship from Ustad Allauddin Kala evam Kala Academy, Bhopal, Department of Culture, Government of Madhya Pradesh. She received extensive training under Guru Shishya Parampara at Chakradhar Kendra Bhopal (Govt. of M.P.) by renowned Kathak Guru of Raigarh gharana late Pt. Kartikramji and Pt. Ramlalji in 1986. Further she is trained academically and professionally in Kathak dance. She has done her Masters degree in Kathak in 1991 with Gold medal from Indira Kala Sangit University Khairagarh, University of Music, Dance and Fine Arts located in Chhattisgarh. She dedicated herself to mastering this dance form. During her erudition she got dispensation from noted Kathak Gurus like Pt.Birju Maharaj, Pt.Durgalal, Rohini Bhate, Jeewan Pani at periodic intervals.

Career
Anuradha debut public performance was at the age of 17 years in the Festival of India held at Russia organised by Government of India in 1987. Besides performing Raigarh kathak dance style at various national and international levels, V.Anuradha Singh is continuously researching in the field of kathak by introducing Persian, Arabic, Urdu, Brij literature and intricately synchronised many music elements with kathak compositions and introduced live theatre to kathak beyond a specific style into a universe of artistic value. Her technical perfection, incomparable flexibility and complete transformation won her accolades in more than 250 performances across India and globally.

Bhakti Kathak
Anuradha as a true disciple and researcher in Kathak is incessantly into exploring the hidden treasures of Kathak. Bhakti Kathak is an alliance of two words 'Bhakti' and 'Kathak' When the Kathak dance movements blend with the rhythmic and lyrical beauty of devotional Bhakti songs of 14th to 17th century Bhakti Kathak is produced which portrays the subtle complexities of philosophy and the overwhelming love for Lord Krishna. Anuradha has reinvigorated the devotional Kathak by bringing into the stage the compositions of Meera, Surdas, Haridas dating back to Bhakti Movement of 14th to 17th century. The fusion of the traditional form of Kathak and the spiritual aspect of devotion is a perfect recipe for the gratification of the soul. The main objective of innovative Bhakti Kathak is to express the emotions in the Bhakti Songs through the dance movements.The dance has evolved into passionate feelings with delicacy of performance that has captured the minds of the viewers.

Sufi Kathak
To complement to Bhakti Kathak and contribute to 'Ganga Jamuni गंगा जमुनी' 'तेहज़ीब-Culture' Anuradha performs Sufi Kathak with the same passion and perfection. She is one of the foremost exponents of Sufi Kathak. She draws from the intuitive and emotional faculties of famous Sufi poetry and builds on its rhythm and melody to produce the dance which is perfect embodiment of Sufi music in visual form. The depiction of whirling Anuradha with such speed and tempo takes us to the journey of mystic manifestation of metaphysical element of God. Kathak on the tunes of Amir Khusro, Bulle Shah, Kabir, Omar Khayyam brings on the same plane the confluence of Persian, Mughal and Indian culture.

Ghunghroo
A Ghunghroo (Urdu: گھنگرو‎), also known as Ghungroo or Ghunghru or Ghungur (Bengali) or Salangai (Tamil) is one of many small metallic bells strung together to form Ghungroos. Anuradha is a pioneer in the world of music for introducing percussive art by feet and has been recognized for Ghunghroo/FootBell recital which is novel to Indian Classical Music. Ghunghroo/Bell appears deceptively simple but to be able to play it through feet as music instrument has never been seen before. Anuradha has solely exhibited Ghunghroo recital, her revolutionary innovation in more than 100 Music festivals across the country and overseas. She has won praises from connoisseurs and her technique is endorsed by stalwarts of Indian Classical Music. Ghunghroo playing technique requires Bell Music recital through foot displays a dazzling virtuosity with amazing crystalline beauty of tone, clarity of stroke, incredible speed, rhythmic cycle, awesome variety and charismatic playfulness (100 minutes Non-stop at one place). The total control over laykari (Hindi:लयकारी) and 20 years of persistent practice (Hindi:रियाज़) contribute to this unimaginable music recital.

Teaching and Dissemination
Anuradha is an artistic director and founder of Vrinda kathak Kendra which was established in 1991, an institution promoting and performing kathak dance form within and outside country.The institution is affiliated to Prayag Sangeet Samiti, Allahabad U.P. Since the days of its inception the institute has organized many workshops and seminars and trained more than 1500 students and many of them have acquired Diploma and Graduate, Post Graduate Degree in the field of Indian Classical Dance. She also grooms budding students by providing reputed stage to these potential kathak performers. With its 25 years of commitment and effort Vrinda Kathak Kendra has gained a reputation of an institution which imparts training in kathak dance and holistic view of dance education. Since last one decade every year these students share stage with Anuradha at about 10 prestigious festivals. She organizes a Mega Cultural event Pt Kartik Ram Smriti Samaroh in memory of her Guru Late Pt Kartik Ram every year in which she invites renowned classical dance artist to perform and the young buddies are given chance to perform in stage. She regularly visits schools and colleges and has already provided guidance and facilitated young classical dancers to become go professional. She is an established brand ambassador and promoter of Kathak Dance.

Social Welfare
Anuradha has worked to support and spread cultural values and classical dance learning to under privileged children. She imparts free of charge training to students lacking in resources. Various NGOs (SOS village, Udaan, prithvi etc) and charitable Institutions have conferred her with certificates for spreading cultural values and propagating classical dance form in their organization. In 2005 during Tsunami tragedy for a noble cause she organised her dance charity show jointly with NITTR (Govt of India) and the fund collected was sent to Prime Minister Relief fund.

Awards and Distinctions
Anuradha has been awarded and felicitated by various government and non Government organizations. She is an internationally acclaimed artist in classical Ghunghroo music and Kathak dance. She has been appreciated by critics and stalwarts of classical music and dance. Recently her 1 hour interview was telecasted in DD National in the Stree Shakti Programme. Some of the awards, to illustrate a few received by Anuradha includes Wakankar Sammaan, Kalamanishi Sammaan, Rajiv Gandhi National Unity Award 2004, Rai Praveen Sammaan 2008, Tulika Sammaan, National Women Excellence Award 2008, Abhinav Kala Sammaan 2009, Kala Sadhna Sammaan 2009, Indira Gandhi Priyadarshini Award 2009, Women of Bhopal 2010, Ojaswini Kalashri Award 2010.

Anuradha with a life time of commitment of kathak, is having one Kidney since childhood and the other one infected which always gives her medical challenge since it catches infection frequently and permanent high blood pressure, with this challenging medical threat she is continuing her dance and artistic vision, a number of dance creations, she has won accolades for her performance due to her dedication and devotion to this dance form. She also created and performed ‘Vandematram’ Kathak video which was telecasted on DD National on the evening of Independence Day 2015. Creativity, admiration and Acceptance— She has her expertise in abhinaya in Nritta gave a new Dimension to Kathak by evolving Devotional Kathak dance on Bhajans which is highly rhythmic energetic kathak dance compositions are based on shlokas and bhajans of lord Rama, Shiv, Ganesh, Krishna, Radha, Buddha etc depict freshness, yet are rooted to our traditions and styles. She evolved Sufiana Kathak based on classical form which has intricately woven with the classical ragas, with high notes, superb, simply spiritual and highly musical expresses the very soul of spiritual feeling and devotion on the lyrics – in Urdu, Persian, Arabic, Brij, Awadhi and Punjabi in praise of divinity. Anuradha has evolved Classical Ghunghroo vadan through her unique percussive art by feet in one place continuously 1 hour which is novel creation to classical music and begins a new era with dimensions. In the world there is no musical instrument which is played through feet. She researched the unique aspect of foot percussion beats through rigorous training of twenty years. It requires dedication, intensive training, continuous practice and expertise in presentation that delivers a successful ghunghroo vadan presentation or concert with innovative approach. It brings great delight all her performance has been widely acclaimed and she stands as one of the most popular kathak dance exponent. She has always received wide coverage in print and television media. She performed in prestigious National and international festivals with well applaud.

Vision and mission Her aim is to promote Indian Classical kathak Dance and Ghunghroo music in every part of the world by performing on stage and conducting and attending workshops, seminars involving the coming generation & masses to classical kathak and to create their interest. http://www.artindia.net/anuradhasingh.html