Vrushali Kolhatkar-Dabke is a well known Kathak dancer, Choreographer and teacher based in Dombivili, India. Her training in the popular Indian classical dance Kathak started at a very tender age of six. She was fortunate to receive tutoring under the revered Kathak teacher Nrityalankar Dr. Manjiri Deo. She earned her Nritya Visharad (equivalent to bachelors) and Nritya Alankar (equivalent to masters) in Dance from Gandharv Mahavidyalaya. She believes in continuous study and elevates herself by attending workshops under renowned artists like Pt.Birju Maharaj, Dr. Puru Dadhich, Pt. Mukundraj Deo, Archana Jogalekar, Pt. Munnalal etc.
Over the last few years she has performed in many prestigious festivals and events organised by established Art Circles like Vashi Fine Arts Society, social responsibility clubs such as Rotary Club and spiritual places like Dwarakadish Temple. Her performances at season special events like Rang Varsha and Durgashtami have been well appreciated by the audience. She had the good fortune to perform with her Guru Dr. Manjiri Deo on many occasions and in many distinct programs. Some of the programs with unique character are – ‘Chhand Sugandh’, a program based on Dr. Manjiri Deo’s research work, ‘Kathak-Lavani Susanvad’ and ‘Panchnaad’, a dance ballet elaborating the various chapters of ‘Natyashastra’.
As a choreographer Vrushali Dabke has rendered significant contribution to the field of Kathak. She has choreographed programs based on Patriotism, Devotion, Motherhood and many such themes. She has even experimented with Kathak based on Hiku, the Japanese poetry translated in English. One of Vrushali’s most proud compositions has been with deaf and dumb students of Zaveri Muka-Badhir Vidyalaya.
Vrushali Dabke has received many awards for her mastery of the Kathak dance. She is a recipient of ‘Late Lilatai Vartak Smruti Uttung Shastriya Nritya Naipunya Puraskar 2008’, an award given by Uttung Parivar Trust organized by renowned classical singer Sau. Asha Khadilkar. She is also a Rotary Excellence Award recipient. Prize in Mood Indigo, 2003 Dance competition organized by IIT, Pawai. And Adarsha Dombivlikar award 2014 for work in classical dance.
Vrushali Kolhatkar Dabke is active in the field of education. She is the Sanchalika of ‘Shree Mudra Kala Niketan’, an academy of arts that trains students in Kathak, Tabla, Keyboard, Guitar, Singing etc. She is the chief faculty of dance in the Dombivili branch of Sanskar Bharati. Her book ‘Laymanjiri’ contains life sketches of over 100 classical music artists over the last 150 years. It is probably the only book of its kind in Marathi. In her capacity as an expert and guide, Vrushali has served as a judge on panels of many dance competitions.