Prerana Shrimali

Prerana Shrimali is a senior dancer of Jaipur Gharana of Kathak.[1] Born in 1959 at Banswara in Rajasthan, Shrimati Prerana Shrimali was initiated in Kathak dance by Shri Gauri Shanker.[2] Later, she was groomed in the art at Kathak Kendra, New Delhi, under Shri Kundan Lal Gangani of the Jaipur gharana. She also learnt to play the Pakhawaj and studied vocal music. Shrimati Prerana Shrimali is among the leading Kathak dancers of her generation. A versatile dancer, she has evolved an individual style in her presentation and gained wide popularity as a soloist. She has also choreographed several productions including Doosro Na Koi – Verses of Meera, Aavartan, Vistaar, Vivriti and Aaratis. She has participated in several international dance seminars and conferences and has presented Kathak in the Festival of India in the U.K., the Asian Performing Arts Festival in Japan, the Avignon Festival in France, and the Dance Festival in Switzerland. In the U.S., she has performed at Carnegie Hall, New York, and presented a series of performances in Jordan, Syria and Muscat. She has also imparted training to young dancers at well-known institutions such as Gandharva Mahavidyalaya and the Shriram Bharatiya Kala Kendra. She has served as Repertory Chief of the Kathak Kendra, Delhi. Shrimati Prerna Shrimali has been bestowed the Rajasthan Sangeet Natak Akademi Award and the Rashtriya Ekta Award of the Rajiv Gandhi Foundation. Her dance has been featured in the film The Far Pavilions produced by BBC. She has herself directed a film, Pathrai Ankhon ke Sapne, for Doordarshan. Shrimati Prerana Shrimali was awarded Sangeet Natak Akademi Award for the year 2009[3] for her contribution to Kathak dance.