Make It Your Own: Amruta Paranjape

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(0:02:03) The meaning of riyaz

(0:05:10) The importance of emptying your mind before riyaz

(0:13:21) Learning Kathak as a hobby vs taking it up professionally

(0:16:12) Preventing student attrition in Kathak

(0:19:09) Handling parents

(0:21:08) How do you teach differently

(0:30:43) Mastering Microbeats in Kathak

(0:33:43) The importance of being innovative

(0:41:25) Caged: A new choreography by Amruta

(0:44:55) Being inspired by Haruki Murakami

(1:04:27) What to do when you aren't motivated internally?

(1:13:09) Doing a Riyaz retreat in India

(1:18:28) Getting students off their phones in the riyaz

(1:20:44) What Amruta taught in her retreat: Teaching beyond what's in the syllabus

Amruta Paranjape is the founder and artistic director of Abhivyakti School of Kathak. She is a Kathak performer, choreographer and teacher. Amruta has always been a performer, mesmerizing the audience with her command over intricate Laya-taal (rhythm) and captivating Abhinaya. She is a senior disciple of Guru Shambhavi Dandekar and is currently undergoing advanced training in Laya-taal from Guru Taalyogi Pt. Suresh Talwalkar ji. She has completed her master’s degree in Kathak from Lalit Kala Kendra, Pune University and also has achieved 'Nritya-Alankar' degree from Akhil Bharatiya Gandharva Mahavidyalaya Mandal. She believes in rigorous and consistent training and extensive Riyaz. She has presented her work as a soloist and has also conducted workshops in India and abroad in USA, UK, Nairobi and Portugal. Her approach towards choreography is traditional as well as contemporary. She has choreographed many projects with pure traditional approach. Many of her projects are based on contemporary themes. She believes in originality, creativity and perfection when it comes to choreography.

Amruta has received prestigious awards, namely the Golden Talent award received at the hands of Pt. Birju Maharajji and the Pandita Rohini Bhate puraskar given by Pune Municipal Corporation.

Amruta is an ICCR empanelled artist and is also empanelled as a Guru in the Centre for Performing arts, Pune University and Bharati vidyapeeth deemed University.