Dr. Pallavi Naik
Dr. Mrs. Pallavi K. Naik is one of the most promising and dedicated Bharatanatyam dancers of her generation. Her talent in dance has been nurtured since childhood and she is practicing this dance form for more than 30 years.
Dr. Pallavi’s initial training of Bharatanatyam under Guru Smt. Uttara Tulshibagwale inspired her to tread an unconventional path and laid the foundation for her promising career as a Bharatanatyam dancer. She had her debut on-stage performance ‘ARANGGETRAM’ at the age of 15 in 1996.
Dr. Pallavi, blessed by renowned Bharatanatyam dancer and her Guru Dr. Smt. Sucheta Chapekar, pursued her Master’s degree in Arts - Bharatanatyam from Pune University’s Lalit Kala Kendra with outstanding grade to evolve as a professional dancer. Since then, she has been performing for various institutions, in festivals and competitions all over India. The performances stood out because of exclusive conceptualization, choreography and performances on topics such as Bhagavat Geeta, Abstract Nritta, Vritti Darshan, Trinity, Saguna Ranjana, DawtaDwita, Nrutya Sabhaa, Sawale Swaroop to name but a few.
She is doctorate in Bharatanatyam on the topic ‘BHARATANATYAM AS A THERAPY FOR MENTALLY CHALLENGED (Focusing on trainable and educable, with the I.Q. range 30 to 70, Age range 10 to 20 years)’ from Pune University under the able guidance of Dr. Smt. Sucheta Chapekar in the year of 2011. Within her doctoral research she devised and formulated a methodology for teaching Bharatanatyam to special children and developed ‘BHARATANATYAM MOVEMENT EVALUATION TEST – BMET’. She was the first to be honored a Ph. D. in fine arts Bharatanatyam from Pune University at the age of 29.
Her research papers include following intricate topics;
- ‘Therapeutic Advantages of Bharatanatyam’,
- ‘Bharatanatyam as a Therapy for Exceptional Children (Mentally Challenged, Learning Disable),
- Bharatanatyam as a therapy for mentally challenged (Focusing on trainable and educable, with the I.Q. range 30 to 70, Age range 10 to 20 years).
Dr. Pallavi has received many prestigious awards including Best Dancer award at Dadar Matunga dance and choreography competition 2004, ‘Sringar Mani’ title by the renowned institution Sur Sringar Sansad.
Her dance has always been appreciated for purity in technique, subtle abhinaya and philosophical approach and thus she has been invited as an honorable judge & examiner by renowned Dance institutions for dance competitions and exams like Swara Sadhana Samiti, Dadar Matunga Cultural center and Akhil Bharatiya Gandharwa Vidaylay, Bharati Vidyapeeth Deemed University.
Dance being part of her routine and being a founder trustee of Kalaprangan Trust she conducts Bharatanatyam classes for normal and special children at Saraswati Mandir Trust Thane.
By collaborating Kalaprangan trust with Mumbai University she has initiated following two courses in Thane:
1. Diploma in Bharatanatyam with aesthetic and therapeutic studies
2. Certificate Course in dance for special children
Dr. Mrs. Pallavi K. Naik; a dancer, choreographer, teacher and therapist loves to relate the classic and aesthetic concept of Bharatanatyam with the philosophical, psychological and physiological aspects of human being.
With all this perception, Bharatanatyam has helped her to grow, mature and be a contented human being.