Shama Bhate

{{Infobox person

| name = Shama Bhate

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1950|10|6|df=y}}

| nationality = Indian

| citizenship = Indian

| occupation = Kathak dancer

| partner = Sanat Bhate

| children = Angat Bhate

| image = File:Guru Shama Bhate - Workshop.jpg

| caption = Shama Bhate conducting a Kathak workshop in Bangalore

}}

Guru Shama Bhate ({{Langx|mr|शमा भाटे}}; born 6 October 1950) also known as Shama Tai, is among the Kathak exponents in India today. Her career spans over 40 years and she has been learning and performing Kathak from the age of 4 and has been a teacher and is involved with choreography and training many Kathak dancers in India. She is also the artistic director of her Dance Academy Nadroop{{cite web |url=http://www.nadroop.org/shama-bhate/ |title=Shama Bhate {{!}} Nadroop |website=www.nadroop.org |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160822023506/http://www.nadroop.org/shama-bhate/ |archive-date=2016-08-22}} in Pune.{{Cite web|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/lifestyle/art-and-culture/expanding-the-boundaries-kathak-dancer-shama-bhate-indian-classical-dance-5334543/|title=Expanding The Boundaries|date=1 September 2018}}

Personal life

Guru Shama Bhate was born in Belgaum (now Belagavi) on 6 October 1950. Born to Smt Gulab Baisa Naik and Sri Ganagadhar G Naik. She is married to Sanat Bhate, who is the son of Guru Rohini Bhate, in 1974 and has a son Angad Bhate.

Training

Shama Bhate is the disciple and daughter in law{{cite news | url=http://archive.indianexpress.com/news/a-legend-remembered/481101/ | title=A legend remembered | date=25 June 2009 | first1=Rishi | last1=Iyengar | newspaper=The Indian Express | accessdate=3 January 2019 }} of Guru Smt. Rohini Bhate.{{Cite book | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ZAbMS6ynGJ8C&q=shama+bhate&pg=PA214 |title = Kathak, Indian Classical Dance Art|isbn = 9788170172239|last1 = Kothari|first1 = Sunil|year = 1989| publisher=Abhinav Publications }} She has also had her training from Pt. Birju Maharaj and Pt. Mohanrao Kallianpurkar. Her idiom of kathak dance has special inputs in ‘Taal’ and ‘Laya’, from tabla taal maestro and exponent Pt. Suresh Talwalkar.{{Cite news|url=https://www.thehindu.com/entertainment/dance/shama-bhate-on-her-artistic-journey/article17475803.ece|title = Keeping pace with the times|newspaper = The Hindu|date = 16 March 2017|last1 = Srikanth|first1 = Rupa}}

Shama Bhate has trained numerous professional Kathak Dancers and is on the board of many universities and functions as one of the senior Guru's in Lalit Kala Kendra of Pune University, Nalanda College of Mumbai University, Bharat College of Nagpur University, Bharati Vidyapeeth in Pune. Under her guidance, more than thirty of her students have acquired a post-graduate degree from various universities and as many as 12 students have been awarded the HRDC National scholarship (for senior students), and also CCERT scholarship (for junior students).{{cite web |url=http://www.nadroop.org/shama-bhate/index.html |title=Shama Bhate {{!}} Nadroop |website=www.nadroop.org |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171108171740/http://www.nadroop.org/shama-bhate/index.html |archive-date=2017-11-08}}

Choreographic work

Shama Bhate's choreographic work{{cite web |url=http://www.nadroop.org/innovative-choreographies/index.html |title=Innovative Kathak Choreographies {{!}} Nadroop |website=www.nadroop.org |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171214081635/http://www.nadroop.org/innovative-choreographies/index.html |archive-date=2017-12-14}} is extensive.{{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20160921033049/http://www.sakaaltimes.com/NewsDetails.aspx?NewsId=5289607667452540483&SectionId=5131376722999570563&SectionName=Features&NewsDate=20150804&NewsTitle=Blending Article title]}} the traditional with the modern She has experimented with both traditional{{Cite web|url=http://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/hyderabad/Paramaparaas-Ancient-Temple-Dance-Fest-From-Jan-30/2016/01/28/article3248042.ece|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160129092903/http://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/hyderabad/Paramaparaas-Ancient-Temple-Dance-Fest-From-Jan-30/2016/01/28/article3248042.ece|url-status=dead|archive-date=29 January 2016|title=Paramaparaa's Ancient Temple Dance Fest from Jan 30}} as well as contemporary format of Kathak. She has created a repertoire of traditional and classical compositions (Taals, Taranas, Thumris, etc.) with her own perspective. Some examples include Trishul (a blend of Taal cycles of 9, 10, and 11 beats), Samvaad (domuhi composition), and Layasopan (traditional Kathak sequence presented through Panch Jatis). A more recent production from 2015 saw her drawing inspiration from the Indian Epic Mahabaratha and created the "Ateet ki Parchhaiyan - Reflections on the Mahabharata Saga"{{Cite web|url=https://www.asianage.com/delhi/7-dance-forms-meld-together-retell-mahabharata-430|title=7 dance forms meld together to retell the Mahabharata|first=SHATAKSHI|last=GAWADE|date=5 November 2015|website=The Asian Age}} with dancers performing 7 different Indian classical and Indian folk dance forms. Another choreography that was performed by her students from Nadroop during the occasion of the 85th birthday celebration of the singer Lata Mangeshkar, was the dance ballet 'Chala Vahi Des'.{{Cite web|url=https://www.indiatoday.in/movies/bollywood/story/sachin-tendulkar-to-felicitate-lata-mangeshkar-on-85th-birthday-293524-2014-09-20|title=Sachin Tendulkar to felicitate Lata Mangeshkar on 85th birthday|agency=Indo-Asian News Service|date=September 20, 2014|website=India Today}}

Some of her most recent production in 2018 are:

1. Chaturang Ki Chaupal - this production introduces the four components of Chaturang-Sahitya, Sargam, nach ke Bol and Tarana in four Ragas intricately woven together with music showcasing the richness of this production.

2. Echoes - Shama Tai's latest choreography is inspired by the Inner Voice and focuses on bhaav and abhinaya through the medium of five stories.

Guru Shama Bhate also organizes and curates the Madame Menaka Choreography Movement, a proverb based choreography festival which happens on an annual basis in Pune.{{Cite web|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/events/pune/choreography-festival-concludes-on-a-high-note-at-jyotsana-bhole-sabhagruha/articleshow/69857961.cms|title=Choreography festival concludes on a high note at Jyotsana Bhole Sabhagruha | Pune News - Times of India|website=The Times of India|date=19 June 2019 }}

Awards and honours

Maharashtra Rajya Puraskar – 2011 conferred by the Maharashtra State Government.
Kala Darpan Puraskar in 2012.
Kala Samvardhan Puraskar by Krishna Mulgur Smriti Pratishthan, 2012.
Kala Gaurav Puraskar by Kalanidhi, 2013.
Rohini Bhate Puraskar by the Pune Municipal Corporation, 2018.
Y.U.V.A Puraskar on International Women's Day, 2018 for her invaluable contribution to Kathak.
Nehru Yuva Kendra Puraskar - Krida mantralaya. 2018.
Shri Kundanlal Gangani Award, 2019.{{Cite web|title=Guru Shama Bhate|url=https://nadroop.org/guru-shama-bhate/|access-date=2021-11-19|website=nadroop|language=en-US}}

References

External links

{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i8UubntiViE// |title=Guru Shama Bhate {{!}} Abhinay (Expression) {{!}} Thumri {{!}} Karat Bar Jori |date=2018-03-07 |last=Nad Roop & Guru Shama Bhate |access-date=2025-04-09 |via=YouTube}}

{{Cite news |last=Srikanth |first=Rupa |date=2017-03-16 |title=Shama Bhate on her artistic journey |url=https://www.thehindu.com/entertainment/dance/shama-bhate-on-her-artistic-journey/article17475803.ece |access-date=2025-04-09 |work=The Hindu |language=en-IN |issn=0971-751X}}