Dr. Sunil Kothari Home Page

Dr. SUNIL KOTHARI is a leading dance historian, scholar and a critic of Indian classical dance forms. He was a Professor and Chair of the Dance Department, Rabindra Bharati University, Kolkata, India from 1980 till

1995.

Offices held: 

1. National Professor of Dance, under University Grants Commission, Asst

2. Secretary (Dance) National Academy of Dance, Drama and Music, New Delhi

3. Artistic Director, Dance Festival of Sur Singar Samsad, Mumbai

4. Member jury for selection of dancers for Khajuraho Dance Festival and Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR)

5. Member, General Council of National Academy of Dance, Drama and Music and several others bodies

6. Vice President of World Dance Alliance Asia Pacific (WDA AP), South Asia from India

7. Member of the executive committee of International Dance Council (CID), UNESCO, Paris

Authorship

1. Several definitive works on Indian Classical Dance Forms, including Bharatanatyam, Kathak, Odissi, Kuchipudi, Chhau Dances of India.
2. Edited 2 volumes of Rasa, essays on aesthetics and dance.
3. Damaru, essays on traditional theatre and crafts, a Photo Biography of Uday Shankar.
4. Photo Biography of Rukmini Devi and has recently edited a volume on New Directions In Indian Dance for MARG Publications.
5. Dr Kothari has served as a dance critic for The Times of India group of publications for more than 35 years.

Awards

1. Padma Shri from the President of India
2. Sangeet Natak Akademi Award (for his contribution to dance)
3. ‘Life Time Achievement Award’ from Kalanidhi Fine Arts, Toronto, Canada (for his outstanding contribution to Indian Dance in March, 2004).
4. Curated two photo exhibitions – one on Uday Shankar, the legendary dancer for the Centenary
   Celebrations for Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts, New Delhi (IGNCA) (2000-2001) and another photo exhibition
   on the ‘Life and Times of Rukmini Devi’ for her Centenary Celebrations for Kalakshetra Foundations,Chennai (2003-4).

Dr Kothari has participated in several international dance conferences and given illustrated talks on dance in various universities, and dance institutions. He has also conducted several Dance Appreciation Courses.

Under Fulbright Fellowship Dr Kothari is currently affiliated with Theatre and Dance Department of the University of Georgia, Athens; and Evergreen State College, Olympia, Washington.
 
Contact: 94, Asiad Village, New Delhi
110049, INDIA. Phone: 00-91-11-26498823  Tel/Fax
00-91-11-26492595
Mobile (0)9810748029
E mail: sunilkothari1933@yahoo.com