Shubhada Varadkar

Odissi dancer

Biography

A freshness of repertoire and absorbing “Abhinaya” made Shubhada’s Odissi recital stand out… The fight between Ravana and Jatayu was unimaginably detailed, dramatic and the death of Jatayu reminded me of Pavlova in 'The Dying Swan'. (Ballet)

-The Times of India

Shubhada Varadkar is a fine exponent of the Odissi form of Indian classical dance. A disciple of the late Padmavibhushan Guru Shri Kelucharan Mohapatra, Shubhada Varadkar is recipient of Senior Fellowship by Ministry of Culture, Gov. of India.

A postgraduate, Shubhada was a lecturer of Economics in R.R. Ruia College, Mumbai. She was also a newscaster with Indian television. But the calls of tinkling anklets made her give up all other careers and devote all her time and energy to Odissi.

A prima donna in Odissi, Shubhada Varadkar’s deep commitment to Odissi enables her to portray intensely emotional and lyrical artistry of this magnificent dance form. She brings out its true spirit as dance of love and passion in all its purity. Her dance is a fascinating union of eloquent expressions, graceful movements and captivating postures right out of Odissi’s legendary heritage. Performance through spontaneous Nritya and Abhinaya comes to her as natural as breathing giving an experience that critics hail as joie de vivre. For Shubhada Varadkar, dance is not merely a creative art form, but also a means of enriching and developing life.

Videos Show all videos

Chitrangada- dance drama by Odisi exponent Shubhada Varadkar

Chitrangada Dance Drama - marathi adaptation

Kanupriya Indian classical dance odissi and theatrical presentation by Shubhada Varadkar

Odissi dance(Pallavi and Abhinaya) by shubhada Varadkar

Shubhada Varadkar performing "Jatayu Moksha" from Tulasidas's Ramacharitmanas

Mayurpankh- excerpts from the Odissi ballet by Shubhada

"Mayurpankh -- Dance of Hope" An autobiographical ballet dedicated to cancer awareness

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Shubhada Varadkar

Shubhada Varadkar - Odissi dancer

Shubhada Varadkar as Chitrangada

Shubhada Varadkar performing in her program - Kanupriya

Shubhada Varadkar performing at Ravindra Natya Mandir

Odissi dance recital ny Shubhada Varadkar

Amurtghanu by Shubhada Paradkar

Career

Shubhada Varadkar is an ‘A’ grade National artiste for Indian television (Doordarshan) and empanelled artiste of the Indian Council for Cultural Relations, New Delhi.

Shubhada Varadkar has performed at various festivals including the ElephantaFestival, Kalidas Festival, Ellora Festival, Pune Festival, Art in Action Festival –UK, Natyanjali Festival – Chidambaram, Puri Festival, Mumbai Festival, Taj Mahotsav-Agra, ICCR’s Malhar Mahotsav – New Delhi, “Virasat Festival”to name a few. She is a founder director and chairperson of Sanskrita Foundation, a registered cultural trust operating from Mumbai. Shubhada was also trained as a Bharatnatyam dancer under renowned late Guru Shri Mani. Yet she has dedicated herself to Odissi and has been performing and teaching Odissi dance extensively.

Shubhada’s major productions include “Kanupriya” based on Dr. Dharmvir Bharti’s poetry by the same name. “Amrutghanu” based on Sant Dnyaneshwar’s literature, “Journey to Divinity” based on the life and philosophy of Swami Vivekananda, “Prakriti Nartan” based on Pandit Vijay Raghav Rao’s music, and “Miracles of Splendours” on Kalidasa’s Ritusamharam, and RavindranathTagore’s “Chitrangada” .

Her dance productions are well received for their rich tapestry of music, choreography, and literature. Within the boundaries of the traditional format, she has enthralled the audience with her artistic excellence and creative spirit.

Ragasswaa, UK had released the DVD of Shubhada’s dance. She is also a prolific writer. Her book “The Glimpses of Indian Classical Dance” is available on Amazon Kindle and Google Play for worldwide audience. She has also penned her autobiographical account in Marathi book titled “Mayurpankh.” Both these books are published by Krimiga Books. In fact, “Mayurpankh” is the first Marathi book to be published simultaneously in print, audio book, and e-book format.

Programs

Amrutghanu by Shubhada Varadkar

Amrutghanu is a unique confluence of Classical dance and Kirtan, based on the immortal works of Great Saint of Maharashtra Sant Dnyaneshwar. “Amrutghanu” takes the journey of Saint Dnyaneshwar’s literature to unfold the evolution of human soul. Portraying his master piece “Dnyaneshwari” this production weaves poetry, music, and dance with Kirtan, a popular art form of Maharashtra.

Mayurpankh - Odissi ballet by Shubhada Varadkar

Mayurpankh 'A dance of hope' is a new dance ballet based on the book 'Mayurpankh' written by Shubhada Varadkar to create awareness on cause of cancer. This concept will be presented through delicate and poised movements of Odissi dance style accompanied by light Indian classical music

Shubhada Varadkar presents Odissi recital

Kanupriya by Shubhada Varadka

: 'Kanupriya' displays the kaleidoscopic range of emotions. It is Radha’s monolog, performed in Odissi dance form with blend of theatrical technique. Kanu (Krishna) has left to create history leaving dejected Radha behind. She is remembering Krishna. While bathing in the blue waters of Yamuna, as she sees her quivering reflexion in the water, imagines that she is in the arms of Krishna. Baffled Radha attempts to define and give a name to her relationship with Krishna. She dreams of him seeking solace for comfort, abandoning the history like old clothing, yearning to go to Radha. Radha… Kanupriya has been waiting to join her Kanu. This presentation developed as non- linear cyclical story telling form, questions the existence of war and subsequent destruction. It is a collection of beautiful poems of Dr Dharamvir Bharati.

Chitrangada - dance drama by Shubhada Varadkar

Chitrangada is a Marathi adaptation of Rabindranath Tagore’s inspiring dance drama with the same name. On a preliminary level, the dance drama is a love story of the exiled prince Arjun, of the Kuru dynasty and the warrior princess Chitrangada. However, the story assumes a complex undercurrent of conflicting emotions within the two external forms of the princess – one manly and warrior like and the other effeminate. The dichotomy between the two and finally the acceptance of the inner beauty of a woman by a man are universal themes that have been explored through the performance. A unique blend of theatrical techniques and classical dance, this Marathi adaptation retains the essence of Tagore’s original music score (Rabindra Sangeet) demonstrating the adaptability of his plays to diverse periods and cultures.