About Me
Ruchi is a devoted disciple of the eminent Kathak maestro Guru Munna Shukla of the Kalka Bindadin (Lucknow) Gharana. Gifted with a natural grace and an innate sensitivity for artistic expression, she brings to her dance and art a rare combination of depth, refinement, all the while emphasising on inner assertive strength. Her performances are often described as delicate filigree work — subtle, intricate, yet quietly powerful.
Born in the culturally vibrant landscapes of Rajasthan and raised in the small town of Khetri Nagar, surrounded by the Aravalis, Ruchi grew up immersed in the rhythms of folk traditions and the beauty of indigenous arts. A post-graduate in Textile Design from the prestigious National Institute of Fashion Technology, New Delhi, she has woven her parallel passion for Kathak into a lifelong pursuit.
Her journey, which began in the innocence of childhood fascination, has since blossomed into a practice recognized at national and international forums. An ‘A’ Grade artist of Doordarshan since 2018, she has performed widely on national television, as well as at prestigious festivals in India and abroad, earning appreciation from critics and audiences alike.
For Ruchi, dance is more than performance — it is meditation. “I lose myself to be with my Self,” she says, describing the essence of her art. This spirit has guided her across many creative expressions: from her textile design work, which once adorned the interiors of Indian Airlines aircraft 320, to her documentary filmmaking, where she has dedicated herself to preserving and presenting the subtle genius of her Guru’s style. Her maiden film Arpan marked her foray as a director and producer, and she continues to create thought-provoking documentaries that uncover the subtler dimensions of Kathak while reflecting on life itself.
As a solo artist, she often steps into collaborative spaces with poets, sculptors, calligraphers, and other creative minds, curating presentations that blur boundaries between disciplines. Her work emphasizes the universality of Indian arts and their timeless resonance — reminding audiences that the traditional is, in fact, the new modern.
Equally passionate as an educator and promoter of the arts, Ruchi has spent over 16 years conducting Kathak baithaks, workshops, and conversations that bring together artists, enthusiasts in a shared space of exploration. Her teaching approach is rooted in a holistic understanding — nurturing body, mind, and spirit through the discipline of Kathak and the values it embodies, all the while opening doors to fresh ways of communicating. Through her project Movement & Stillness, she creates unique platforms for dialogue, bringing Kathak into conversation with varied art forms and disciplines, and celebrating its enduring legacy while gifting its essence to future generations.
Whether on stage, in the classroom, or through her films, Ruchi’s journey reflects a devotion that is at once deeply personal and universally resonant. She embodies the quiet strength of tradition, carried with finesse into contemporary times.
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