Pali Chandra, (born 19 November 1967) is an Indian choreographer, dance educator and artistic director who propagates dance education through various channels.[1][2] She has established several studios specialising in Kathak training programs in the United Kingdom, United Arab Emirates, India and Switzerland. She has directed 14 art festivals in various continents and is the co-founder for the portal Learn Kathak Online[3][4] as well as Course Director of Kathak for Natyasutra Online with Invis Multimedia.[5]
Chandra was born and raised in Lucknow, the capital of Uttar Pradesh to Dwarka Nath Srivastava, a retired senior officer of Reserve Bank Of India and NABARD who was based in Lucknow for most of his life; and Usha Srivasatava, a Hindustani classical music singer from Faizabad. She is the sister of Somna Tugnai.
Chandra started dancing at the age of six.[8] She trained under her guru Vikram Singhe,[9]Sangeet Natak Akademi, and Kapila Raj,[10] as well as Ram Mohan Mishra for 13 years at Kathak Kendra Lucknow.[11]
The first of four gurukul studios was founded in 2008 in Dubai, where Pali Chandra provides instruction to 550 students learning and performing Kathak whilst following the ISTD - UK (Imperial Society for Teachers of Dancing - United Kingdom) syllabus.[14][15] In 2019, she founded the Swiss International Kathak Festival (of which she is the artistic director),[16] organized 11 annual dance festivals called Dancing Divas from 2009 to 2019, and released several productions in the UK, UAE and India.
Under the banner of Pali Peacocks, Chandra has been honored at the House of Commons in London as the Best Art Director for her production In the Shadow of the Hills.[17] Her projects have frequently received funding from the Arts Council of England and London Arts Board and other institutions and organizations.[18][19]
Activism
Pali Chandra was involved in awareness programs for people with special needs.[20]
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