INFORMATION REGARDING CONTRIBUTIONS IN KATHAK DANCE

Renowned Kathak dance exponent for over 45 years
Founder, Artistic Director, Nandkishore Cultural Society, non-profit institution for promoting Kathak classical dance

Recipient of Sangeet Natak Akademi Award, honored by the Government of India in 2020, Dr. Baba Saheb Ambedkar Dalit Mitra Award, honored by the Government of Maharashtra in 2010, Maharashtra Cultural State Award - Maharashtra Sanskrutik Rajya Puraskar, bestowed by Government of Maharashtra in 2003, Ministry of Culture Senior Research Fellow in 2017 and recipient of Ministry of Culture National Scholarship 1978

Current Positions:

Director, Dr. D Y Patil School of Liberal Arts. Since 2022
Advisory Committee, Kathak Kendra. Since 2023
Member, Dance Committee, Maharashtra State Cultural Policy. Since 2023
PhD Guide, Sri Sri Centre for Advanced Research in Kathak. Since 2021
Member, Committee, West Zone Cultural Centre. Since 2022
Examiner for Ph.D. and Sangeet Acharya students (Pune University, TMV University, Akhil Bharatiya Gandharv Mahavidyalaya Mandal)

Education:
Doctorate PhD in Kathak. 2005

Other:
A Grade Artist, Delhi Doordarshan
Empanelled Artist Indian Council of Cultural Relations (ICCR)
Empanelled Artist Festival of India
Established Pt. Birju Maharaj Dance and Music Research Centre and Library 2006
Established Kathak Queen Sitara Devi Art Museum 2016

Dr. Pt. Nandkishore Kapote is a a born Artist. Nandkishore as a child used to dance to the tunes of Radio. As he grew up, he immitated the dances in movies which he saw. In subsequent years of his school dayss, he took interest in all kinds of dance forms.

Once, he saw the dance performance of Natraj Gopi-Krishna. It was his first occasion to see a male dancer. It had an ever lasting impact on him. He decided to take this Art. He was allowed by his family to join a Kathak Traning Institute in Pune at the young age of Nine.

He did Kathak training and completed Diploma Course (three years) and  Degree Course (five years) in Kathak Dance under the guidance of Shri. Mannalal Shukla. During training period, he also gave performances in and out side Maharashtra. He took part in dance competition to his getting prizes and commendatory letters. Nandkishore also simultaneously completed his graduation in commerce. He applied for National Scholarship from Govt. of India. In 1976-77 Nandkishore received National Scholarship from the Cultural Dept. Govt. of India for learning Kathak Dance under the guidance of Pt. Birju Maharaj at New Delhi. Nandkishore Kapote is the first male Kathak Aritst to receive such a Scholarship in Maharashtra.

In 1982 Nandkishore Kapote presented a Kathak dance performance in Russia in the presence of LATE PRIME MINISTER OF INDA SMT. INDIRA GANDHI and Late PRESIDENT MR.BRAZNOV OF RUSSIA, and in 1987 he again performed Kathak dance in Russia in the presence of LATE PRIME MINSTER OF INDIA Mr. RAJIV GANDHI. At the opening ceremony of “ASIAD 1982 at Delhi Nandkishore Kapote had given dance performance under the able Music Direction of Pt. Ravishankar. In 1986 with the blessing of Bharat Ratna Pt. Bhimsen Joshi. Nandkishore Kapote established dance Institution and stepped in the field of Kathak dance training in Pune. Many students of Nandkishore Kapote who have passed out through this institute are carrying the same torch and spreading the knowledge of Kathak in all over Maharashtra by conducting Kathak dance classes. Students ageing 4 yrs to 80 years are undertaking training in this institution.

In 1998 at Pimpri – Chinchwad on behalf of Nandkishore Cultural Society Dr. Nandkishore Kapote established “Kathak University”, whose main building was inaugurated at the hands of Guru and wellknown Kathak exponent Pt. Birju Maharaj.

This is the sole Institute in Maharashtra providing training in all kinds of performing Artss like Singing, Dancing, Instrumental i.e. in Hindustani Classical Vocal, Karnataka Vocal, Tabla, Harmonium etc. The institute consists of a well equip auditorium of its own which provides a platform to the students seeking admission into it to perform their Arts.