Two dancers with NJ Choreography Fellowships to perform in virtual event

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Kathak dancers Pallavi Degwekar-Shaikh and Barkha Patel are among the seven dance choreographers who received the highest honor from the New Jersey State Council on the Arts (NJSCA) – a Choreography Fellowship.

They will perform in a virtual two-part event Capturing the Moment on April 30 and May 1, 2021 at 7.30pm EST. according to a press release by South Orange Performing Arts Center (SOPAC).

Shaikh who will perform in Part One on April 30 began her dance journey when she was ten years old as a student of Kathak, a North Indian classical dance form.

Her training from several gurus including maestro, Pandit Birju Maharaj led to her obtaining a master’s degree (Alankar) in Kathak, several accolades, titles like ‘Singarmani’ and ‘Nrityangana 99’ and performances at prestigious events in India and in the US.

Shaikh’s most recent performances include Lincoln Center, NYC in David Geffen Hall and Carnegie Center.

Patel who will perform in Part Two trained in kathak both in India and New Jersey for over two decades with renowned kathak maestros and has a Masters degree in Performing Arts from Kalidasa Sanskrit University.

A touring artist, Patel creates works that reconcile the dichotomies of her Indian heritage with a contemporary mindset, the press release said. Her most recent work, ‘Mukta, A Woman Liberated’, was developed in residency at the Center for Flamenco Arts and has been presented at numerous festivals in New York City.

Patel has completed a choreographic fellowship with the New Jersey Performing Arts Center (NJPAC), received the NJSCA choreography fellowship in 2020, and is Dance/USA Institute for Leadership mentee. She was recently announced as a 2021 Forge Consultancy Fellow.

Tickets to the event are free with registration and are available on the SOPAC website.