Vibha Dadheech

{{short description|Indian classical dancer (born 1954)}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2020}}

{{Use Indian English|date=May 2020}}

{{Infobox dancer

| honorific_prefix = Dr

| name = Vibha Dadheech

| image = Dr._Vibha_Dadheech.jpg

| alt =

| caption = Vibha Dadheech performing ‘Khandita Nayak’ at Jaipur Kathak Kendra, Kathak Mahotsav 2014

| full_name =

| birth_name = Vibha Rani Gupta

| birth_date = 12 March 1954

| birth_place =

| death_date =

| death_place =

| occupation = Kathak Dancer, Kathak Scholar, Author, Educationist

| years_active = since 1963

| current_group =

| former_groups =

| dances = Kathak

| website =

}}

Vibha Dadheech (born 12 March 1954) is an Indian classical dancer in the Kathak dance form. She began learning Kathak from Raigarh Court dancer Pt. Firtu Maharaj, and later in Guru Shishya Parampara from Pt. Shambhu Maharaj as a ganda bandh shagird, living and learning at her guru’s home.{{Cite web|url=https://www.bhaskar.com/mp/indore/news/life-time-achievement-award-for-artist-dr-vishwa-dadhich-030205-3492335.html|title=कलाकार डॉ. विभा दाधीच को लाइफ टाइम अचीवमेंट अवॉर्ड|date=24 December 2018|website=Dainik Bhaskar}} She is also the senior-most disciple and wife of Puru Dadheech. Together they founded the Natavari Kathak Nritya Academy, Indore.{{Cite web|url=https://www.thestatesman.com/supplements/celebrating-a-guru-1502782187.html|title=Celebrating a Guru|website=The Statesman|date=26 July 2019}} Currently, Vibha Dadheech is serving as Professor Emeritus at world’s first dedicated Kathak Research centre at the Sri Sri University, The Sri Sri Centre for Advanced Research in Kathak. {{Cite web|url= https://www.patrika.com/indore-news/kathak-dancer-padmashree-dr-puru-dadhich-5699953/|title= गुरु ने कहा था, कथक के शास्त्र की खोज करो, उसी में जुटा हुआ हूं : डॉ. दाधीच | Kathak Dancer Padmashree Dr. Puru Dadhich|date= 28 January 2020}}

Vibha graduated in 1988 with a doctorate PhD in Kathak from Indira Kala Sangeet Vishwavidyalaya Khairagarh. Her topic for research was Dance Hand Gestures - Bharatiya Nritya ki Varnamala: Hast Mudrayen. Which include more than 1100 hand gestures with their definitions from approximately 23 shastra granthas. It also happens to be one of the most awarded research and is also a published book by the same name.{{Cite web|url=http://www.sangeetgalaxy.co.in/detail.php?unid=17|title=Sangeet Galaxy|website=www.sangeetgalaxy.co.in}}

Dadheech has been felicitated with India’s highest award to a performing artist, the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award and Madhya Pradesh's highest Civilian Award The Shikhar Samman.{{Cite news|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/bhopal/shikhar-samman-for-swayam-prakash-rahat-indori-lata-munshi-24-others/articleshow/72116760.cms|title=Shikhar Samman for Swayam Prakash, Rahat Indori, Lata Munshi & 24 others|date=19 November 2019|newspaper=The Times of India|accessdate=29 May 2020}}

She was awarded the Senior Fellowship from the Ministry of Culture, Govt. Of India in Kathak for years 2011–12.{{cite web| url=http://www.indiaculture.nic.in/sites/default/files/Schemes/fellowship%202011-12.pdf | title=List of Selected Candidates for the Award of Junior and Senior Fellowships for 2011-12 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150423124859/http://www.indiaculture.nic.in/sites/default/files/Schemes/fellowship%202011-12.pdf | archive-date=2015-04-23}}

She is an author and published her research book Bharatiya Nritya ki Varnamala: Hast Mudrayen (ABC of Indian Dance Gestures) in Hindi language. Hardcover - 2003 {{ISBN|978-8190105712}}{{Cite book|title=Buy BHARTIYA NRITYA KI VARNMAALA HAST MUDRAYEN (The ABC of Indian Dance Hand Gestures) in Hindi Book Online at Low Prices in India | BHARTIYA NRITYA KI VARNMAALA HAST MUDRAYEN (The ABC of Indian Dance Hand Gestures) in Hindi Reviews & Ratings - Amazon.in|id={{ASIN|819010571X|country=in}}}} Her book has also been prescribed for the Bachelor level of Dance syllabus at University of Indore, Govt. of Madhya Pradesh.{{cite web| url=https://www.dauniv.ac.in/public/frontassets/syllabus/UGPGAnnualSyllabus/DanceBhratnatayam.pdf | language=hi | title=Dance Bhratnatayam}}

Vibha has received the Life-time Achievement Award 2015 at the 25th Gopi Krishna Mahotsav, Mumbai for serving Kathak for over 50 years. She collaborated with 40 other artists to create Kala Arpan that was launched by Sri Ravi Shankar.{{Cite web|date=2020-10-20|title='Kala Arpan' an offering by 40 maestros of Indian classical art at launch of WFAC|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/art-and-culture/kala-arpan-an-offering-by-40-maestros-of-indian-classical-art-at-launch-of-wfac/story-xivmJ3tMz2KmXe6itdVIuO.html|access-date=2021-09-29|website=Hindustan Times|language=en}}