Puru Dadheech
Puru Dadheech is a Kathak dancer, choreographer and an educator of Indian classical dance. At the oldest Kathak department which was formed in 1956 at Indira Kala Sangeet Vishwavidyalaya Public University located in Khairagarh. He is the holder of Doctorate in Kathak Classical Dance and emphasizes the relevance of Shastras in the Kathak repertoire. He was awarded Padma Shri, the 4th highest civilian award of India at the age of 81. He is currently serving as the Director of the dedicated Kathak research Centre at the Sri Sri University, Cuttack called Sri Sri Centre for Advanced Research in Kathak.
Education
Puru Dadheech studied under Guru-Shishya Parampara under Gurus Pt. Durga Prasad, Pt. Sunder Prasad as well as Pt. Narayan Prasad.Dadheech is Doctorate in Kathak. Research dissertation Kathak Nritya ka Udbhav aur Vikas by Prayag Sangeet Samiti.
He received the Mahamahopadhyay and Sangeetacharya in Kathak from Akhil Bharatiya Gandharva Mahavidyalaya Mandal. He also has a PhD in Sanskrit Dramatics from Vikram University, Ujjain. His PhD was on the topic Sanskrit Prayog Vigyan Evam Kalidasiya Rupak which has been published as a book.
He has also received the Tagore National Fellowship by the Ministry of Culture.
Personal life
Puru Dadheech was born to a traditional Pauranik brahmin family of Ujjain, Madhya Pradesh. He is married to kathak guru and researcher Dr. Vibha Dadheech. He has 2 sons and a daughter.Career
Dadheech had served as Professor and Head of the Dance Department at Bhatkhande University, Lucknow, and as Dean, Faculty of Arts, at Indira Kala Sangeet Vishwa Vidyalaya, Khairagarh, teaching and guiding several research scholars for their doctoral thesis.Dadheech has been an editor for Swarn Jayanti Smarika Golden Jubilee Magazine of Bhatkhande Hindustani Sangeet Mahavidyala.
He participated in many seminars and delivered talks on subjects such as "Kalidasa and Natya Sashtra" at Birla Academy, Kolkata.
Puru Dadheech has developed Kathak syllabus books which are instated in the Kathak department of various universities. He has created the Dadheech style of Kathak.
He has been on committee on National Conference- "Innovation in Music And Dance" organized at Dept. Music And Dance, Govt. Maharani Laxmibai Girls P.G. college, Indore.
Dadheech has been a mentor and guide to several students doing Masters and Doctorate degrees in Kathak since 1961.
Awards
- Padma Shri 2020
- Sangeet Natak Akademi Award 2018
- Kalidas Samman 2021
- Maha Mahopadhyay from Akhil Bharatiya Gandharva Mahavidyalaya Mandal
- Madhya Pradesh Govt, M.P., Shikhar Samman Award 2004
- Sangeet Natak Academy, U.P., Academy Award 1984
Books
Dr. Dadheech has written many scholarly books which are also assigned as syllabus textbooks at Kathak departments of Universities. Some titles are:- Kathak Nritya Shiksha Part 1
- Kathak Nritya Shiksha Part 2
- Kathak Dance Syllabi
- Abhinaya Darpan
- Sanskrit Prayog Vigyan Evam Kalidasiya Rupak
- Nrittasutram
- Natyashastra ka Sangeet Vivechan
- Ashtottar Shattaal Lakshanam
- Bharatnatyam Shiksha
- Pashchyat Nrityakala
Rare Compositions
Dr. Puru Dadheech has specially written and composed the Naayak Bheda – different types of heroes as well as conducted a workshop on rare compositions like 'Dashavatar' and 'Dhrupad' in 'Bhrama taal'. His literary compositions are called 'Purukalp'.Dhrupad in Kathak
Dadheech's Dhrupad composition in 28 matra is sung regularly sung in concerts by 'Dhrupad' maestros the Gundecha Brothers.In 1981, Dadheech choreographed and danced the ancient Nritya style of Dhrupad in Mathura. He has researched and written an article titled Dhrupad Nartan Ki Parampara.
In 2013 ITC Sangeet Research Academy has conducted Dhrupad Seminar in association with National Centre for the Performing Arts (India) where Puru Dadheech participated as speaker to discuss Origin of Dhrupad evolving into different Banis and PROPAGATION OF DHRUPAD - During the reign of Mansingh Tomar and others. Puru Dadheech, discussed the origin of Dhrupad at length and established that Dhrupads are older than the times of Raja Mansingh Tomar.