Guru Ranjana Srivastava is a legendary figure, a Kathaka mestro who has bestowed her knowledge on many many Kathaka learners and performers of today's era. Since childhood, she was trained & groomed in the intricacies of the Lucknow Gharana of Kathaka, under the exemplary guidance of Guru Vikram Singhe, a disciple of Achchan Maharaj further trained from stalwarts like Pt. Shambhu Maharaj, Birju Maharaj (Lucknow gharana) and Pt. Sunder Prasad ji & Shri M.R. Kalyanpurkar (Jaipur gharana)
At present she is working as a Professor in Kathak Dance in the Department of Dance, Faculty of Performing Arts.
Area of Specialization:
Her specialization is in Abhinaya. She has a thrust towards maintaining a beautiful balance between the traditional legacy values along with the evolving process in the performing arts in the field of the art of dance- Kathaka.
Education:
At present she is working as a Professor in Kathak Dance in the Department of Dance, Faculty of Performing Arts.
Area of Specialization:
Her specialization is in Abhinaya. She has a thrust towards maintaining a beautiful balance between the traditional legacy values along with the evolving process in the performing arts in the field of the art of dance- Kathaka.
Education:
- Ph.D Banaras Hindu University : Kathaka: Its Origin & Development (A Study based on Ancient & Medieval Sculptures & Painting) 1993
- M.A. (English Lit.), Lucknow University, 1970,
- Nrtya Nipun, Bhatkhande Sangeet Vidyapeeth, Lucknow,1963
Academics:
*Dhrupad Nrtya : A Reconstruction (UGC Major Project 2004)
*Resource person in many refresher courses conducted by the UGC in many universities.
*Expert Selection Committee in many universities.
*Organized one National Seminar in 2005, Faculty of Performing Arts, BHU
Concerts:
*Presented several performance in Lucknow, Allahabad, Vrindavan, Mathura, Delhi, Madras, especially focusing on the Abhinaya aspect of dance, which has been highly appreciated by experts. The performance on Bhramar Geet, based on Shrimad Bhagwat performed in Vrindavan, Mathura ; IGNCA, New Delhi & Varanasi were a unique success, the music for which was provided by Prof. Prem Lata Sharma.Choreographed, directed & performed in many dance shows, dance-dramas.
* Choreographed / Directed many performances
*Bhamara Geet, Krishna Leela Prasanga, BHU Alumni Meet 2007, Acharya Smriti Saptah- 2008 and many others.
Publications:
*Presented several performance in Lucknow, Allahabad, Vrindavan, Mathura, Delhi, Madras, especially focusing on the Abhinaya aspect of dance, which has been highly appreciated by experts. The performance on Bhramar Geet, based on Shrimad Bhagwat performed in Vrindavan, Mathura ; IGNCA, New Delhi & Varanasi were a unique success, the music for which was provided by Prof. Prem Lata Sharma.Choreographed, directed & performed in many dance shows, dance-dramas.
* Choreographed / Directed many performances
*Bhamara Geet, Krishna Leela Prasanga, BHU Alumni Meet 2007, Acharya Smriti Saptah- 2008 and many others.
Publications:
- Tantra-Mantra-Yantra in Dance � An Exposition of Kathaka.
- Kathaka : The Tradition Fusion & Diffusion (Under Publication)
- Papers in magazines & journals; one chapter on Kathaka in Stone & Manuscripts, published in Dance The Ultimate Metaphor, ed Shanta Serbjeet Singh.