Ranjana Srivastava
Professor of Classical Indian Kathak Dance
Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, India
Ranjana Srivastava comes from an aristocratic family of the city of Lucknow in India. From childhood she was taught by the master Vikram Singh. When her above-average talent was visible, other masters such as Shambu Maharaj, Birju Maharaj, Sunder Prasad and M.R. Kalyanpurkar gave her their blessings by teaching her.
Prof. Srivastava is teaching classical Kathak Dance at the Faculty of Performing Arts, Banaras Hindu University in Varanasi since 1984.
Her appopintment led to the estabblishment of kathak diploma dance classes in BHU , Faculty of Performing Arts in the 80's. Under her deanship the Faculty of Performing Arts witnessed the estabishment of Department of Dance having a independent building and indentity. She enjoys the gift of training and guiding students devoted to dance and music and spritiuality from all over the world.
Her dancing has lost none of the authenticity, purity, and grace of the old masters in spite of the considerable Western influence that inundates India today.
She completed Kathak Dance studies – Nrtta Nipum - from Bhatkhande Sangeet Vidyapeeth in Lucknow, a Masters Degree in English Literature from Lucknow University and her PhD ozf Kathak Dance from Banaras Hindu University.
Through her long disciplined study she grew in her ability to lose herself happily in her dance and to transfer this feeling to her audience. There are reports of concerts where the audience were in tears following her dance.
From 2005-08 she was Dean of the Faculty of Performing Arts, BHU in Varanasi.
In September 2008 she was offered the Office of the Vice Chancellor of Bhatkhande Sangeet Vidyapeeth in Lucknow, which she declined for personal reasons.
She has created choreographies and ballets of unique lyrical beauty. She gives lectures and participates in seminars at numerous universities in India, including international audiences .
Her works:
„Tantra, Yantra, Mantra in Dance"
(2004) ISBN 81-246-0268-9
„Kathaka - The Tradition. Fusion and Difusion"
(2008) ISBN 13: 978-81-246-0473-1
„Dhrupada Nrtya: A Reconstruction"