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Jigyasa Giri is a Kathak dancer, teacher & choreographer of repute. She is the founder & creative director of “Devaniya”, the foremost school of Kathak in Chennai. Having received her tutelage from Late Guru Natyashri Krishna Kumar Dharwar in the Banaras Gharana of Kathak, and late Guru Dr. Maya Rao of Bengaluru in the Lucknow Gharana, Jigyasa continues the parampara and has been teaching in Chennai for over fifteen years.
Her dedication and sensitivity as a teacher are evident in her service towards paving a path for Kathak in Chennai. In 2019, Devaniya was certified as the founder school of the ‘Dakshin Gharana of Kathak’.
Jigyasa Giri is the grand daughter-in-law of Bharata Ratna Shri. V.V Giri, 4th President of Independent India, daughter-in-law of former chairperson NCW, Padmabhushan, late Dr. V. Mohini Giri, wife of V.V Giri, hotelier of repute, and daughter of respected medical professionals in Chennai late Dr. Devayani Patel and Rotarian Dr. Prakash N Patel.
She is also a publisher and cookbook author, having co-authored and published two award winning cookbooks - “Cooking at Home with Pedatha” & “Sukham Ayu”.
Jigyasa is a successful entrepreneur, a sensitive teacher and artist, and dedicated social worker.
Awards:
Jigyasa has been recognized by the Guild of Women Achievers for bringing about a cross cultural synergy in the field of dance and has been awarded the Sitara, woman achiever award 2014* by the Rotary club. In January 2020, Jigyasa was awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award for her contribution to kathak in Chennai by the Amir Khusro Sangeet Academy. On January 2nd 2022, she was awarded the ‘Madura Kalamani’ title award by Kartik fine arts in Chennai. On 1st May 2022, she was honoured by the Saraswathi educational, cultural and charitable trust with the Shrimati Indira Garyali Award for her contribution to kathak in Chennai and bestowed with the title ‘kathak Samragi ‘.
She was also bestowed with the “pudhumai penn” award from Tanishq on 15th July 2022. This award celebrated her as a soul of tradition with a spark of change that empowers women through dance.
On June 15th 2023, Jigyasa was a recipient of the prestigious Carnatic awards. She was presented a citation by the Rotary Club of Chennai Carnatics that speaks of her dedicated service in the field of Fine Arts.
On 25th May 2024, Jigyasa was conferred with the lifetime achievement award by Rotary club of Chennai Bharathi, for her dedication and exemplary work in the art form of Kathak.
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