Menaka thakkar biography of williams
Menaka Thakkar
Indo-Canadian dancer, choreographer (–)
Menaka Thakkar | |
|---|---|
| Born | ()3 March Mumbai, India |
| Died | 5 February () (aged&#;79) |
| Occupation(s) | Dancer Choreographer Instructor |
| Career | |
| Current&#;group | Menaka Thakkar Dance Company |
Menaka Thakkar (March 3, - February 5, ) [1] was an Indo-Canadian dancer, choreographer, and teacher who specialized in Indian classical dance.
Based in Toronto, Ontario, Thakkar taught and performed across Canada and around the world. She was awarded Canada's Governor General's Performing Arts Award for Lifetime Artistic Achievement in In she was inducted into Dance Collection Danse's Dance Hall of Fame.
Early life and education
Thakkar was born in Mumbai, India, on March 3, [2] In Mumbai, Madras, and Cuttack, she completed training in Indian classical dance (including Bharatanatyam, Odissi, and Kuchipudi styles).[2] She earned an undergraduate degree in visual arts in [2]
Thakkar performed as a soloist in India.[3] She travelled to Canada in to visit her brother and to perform.[2] She decided to settle in the country the following year,[2] joining her brother Rasesh Thakkar and their sister in Toronto.[4][5]
Career
Teaching
Thakkar founded Nrtyakala: The Canadian Academy of Indian Dance in Toronto in [2][6] For a decade, she taught dance intensives across Canada.[2] She also taught a course in Indian dance as an adjunct professor at York University in Toronto.[2][3] Thakkar was credited in the Ottawa Citizen for "singlehandedly craft[ing] a whole generation of South Asian dancers in Canada".[4]
Performance and choreography
In , Thakkar founded the Menaka Thakkar Dance Company, based in Toronto.[2] As a dancer and choreographer, she has toured North America and internationally.[7] One early piece, a solo interpretation of the poem Gita Govinda, earned positive critical reviews in Canadian media when it debuted in the s.[8][9] She performed the piece for over 25 years.[10]
She has also experimented with novel interpretations of Indian dance traditional styles.[11] For East Meets West, she collaborated with choreographer Robert Desrosiers to blend traditional Indian and Western dance styles.[7]
Awards and honours
Thakkar earned an honorary Doctor of Letters degree from York University in [2]
In , Thakkar won the Canada Council Walter Carsen Prize for Excellence in the Performing Arts.[12] In , she was awarded the Governor General's Performing Arts Award for Lifetime Artistic Achievement in Dance.[2]
Death
She died on February 5, in Toronto of complications from Alzheimer's disease.
Her death occurred 17 days after that of her older brother Rasesh Thakkar, and the Toronto Globe and Mail published a joint obituary for the two of them.[5]
References
- ^Gupta, Dhriti. "In Tribute: Menaka Thakkar". The Dance Current. Retrieved 10 May
- ^ abcdefghijkCrabb, Michael (25 December ).
"Menaka Thakkar".
Menaka thakkar biography of williams sisters Elisabeth Kelly Archives and Programming Coordinator. Many vital conversations about the changing world of Indian dance as it moved beyond its borders and re-imagined its traditions, took place right here in Toronto. Proudly powered by WordPress. Review Cart Toggle Menu Close.The Canadian Encyclopedia. Retrieved 18 May
- ^ abMiliokas, Nick (25 May ). "Thakkar's work explores creation and destruction". The Leader-Post. p.&#; Retrieved 18 May
- ^ abRowe, Andrea (8 February ).
"A lifetime of dance".
Menaka thakkar biography of williams wife United States. In the early years Ms. Sudha later flourished in her role as impresario and presenter with Kalanidhi Fine Arts. What a life you travelled, dear Menaka, 50 years of them in Canada, and we were friends for most of those.The Ottawa Citizen. p.&#; Retrieved 18 May
- ^ abBhandari, Aparita (18 February ). "Siblings helped classical Indian dance flourish in Canada". The Globe and Mail.
Menaka thakkar biography of williams family: Such collaborations resulted in the creation of innovative works such as Land of Cards and Duality , which weave together contemporary and classical traditions. The Leader-Post. I showed her what I had learned in India and she invited me to watch her classes and rehearsals. Not long afterwards, Michael Crabb invited me to write a series of articles about Indian dance for Dance in Canada magazine.
Retrieved 9 August
- ^Mortin, Jenni (14 October ). "Indian dancer bridges two cultures". Star-Phoenix. p.&#; Retrieved 26 May
- ^ abPilon, Bernard (25 October ). "The dance of a lifetime". The Leader-Post.
- REMEMBERING MENAKA THAKKAR - Dance Ontario
- Menaka Thakkar Obit – Dance Collection Danse
- Menaka thakkar biography of williams1
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p.&#; Retrieved 18 May
- ^Lyon, George W. (12 May ). "Thakkar dance brings to life erotic spirituality of a poem". Calgary Herald. p.&#; Retrieved 18 May
- ^Francis, Ruth (26 May ).Menaka thakkar biography of williams brothers Teaching [ edit ]. Born: March 3, , Bombay, India Died: February 5, , Toronto Menaka Thakkar was a master of three classical Indian dance styles: bharatanatyam, odissi and kuchipudi. Early life and education [ edit ]. Toggle Menu Close.
"Sensitive portrayal by dancer". The Ottawa Journal. p.&#; Retrieved 18 May
- ^"Dance | Today". The Vancouver Sun. 16 May p.&#; Retrieved 18 May
- ^Crabb, Michael (27 January ). "A traditional art form upended". National Post.Menaka thakkar biography of williams Click Here to watch an interview with Menaka Thakkar. Miriam Adams, C. Indo-Canadian dancer, choreographer — Thakkar has created groundbreaking choreographies since coming to Canada which reflect both her exposure to western dance styles and her background in classical Indian dance.
p.&#; Retrieved 18 May
- ^"Indian dancer captures $30, prize". Times Colonist. 1 September p.&#; Retrieved 18 May