Guru Harish Gangani
Guru Harish Gangani
One of India’s most accomplished kathak dancers, the Delhi-based
Harish Gangani hails from a family of traditional kathak exponents
of the Jaipur Gharana. Son of maestro Pt. Kundanlal Gangani, who
is credited with adding new dimensions to the discipline, Harish’s
oeuvre focuses on gat nikas in vilambit laya. Having combed the
heritage of Rajasthan’s traditional folk songs and music for newer
possibilities, Harish’s repertoire is also rich in abhinaya, nritta,
music and choreography.
Harish obtained a diploma in kathak from the Kathak Kendra,
the National Institute of Kathak Dance, Delhi, where he was also
awarded a merit scholarship; in 1994, he received a national
scholarship, and two years later, a junior fellowship from the
Ministry of Human Resource Development for his promising talent.
He was honoured with the prestigious Shringar Mani, conferred
upon emerging artists by Mumbai’s Sur Singar Samiti at the Kal Ke
Kalakar festival of dance. Under the tutelage of his elder brother and
guru, Pt. Rajendra Gangani, he was also given the esteemed Central
Sangeet Natak Akademi Award for his contribution to kathak.
A world-class dancer, Harish has been a part of several prestigious
festivals all over the country as well as abroad, in the US, UK,
France, Switzerland, Mauritius, UAE, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Brazil. To
hone his art, he has also performed alongside flamenco dancers
in Europe and taught the discipline at Gandharva Mahavidyalaya
(1994-1997), Shri Ram Bhartiya Kala Kendra, Delhi (1998-1999),
and held a two-month long workshop in Brazil (1998). In Moscow,
Russia, he served as a teacher and performer for four years at the
Jawaharlal Nehru Cultural Centre attached to the Indian Embassy.
Harish lives in Gurgaon and currently trains several promising
young dancers while continually evolving his personal style.
