Hetal Nagaraj.

hetal123

About Hetal Nagaraj

Indian Classical Background: Formal Trainings of introducing Indian dances started at the age of 4 from her mother Lt. Daksha M Joshi. Age 6, Formal Bharatnatyam Training started with Ms. Daksha. V. Joshi (Kalakshetra Style).
- 2018 Master of Fine Arts(Bharatnatyam) from Tiruchirappalli Diocesan Educational Society (Tamil University) under the mentorship/guide of Dr. Marie Stella (Pondicherry & Chennai-India) and Master Instructors such as KM Jayakrishnan Ambadi from Kalakshetra Foundation, Chennai(India).
  - This program is most vigorous program in India for Bharatnatyam for which even students of Kalakshetra Foundation, Chennai(India) come to get their degrees because of extensive residency trainings and curriculum of this MFA Degree.
- 2015: Advance Bharatnatyam knowledge from Guru.Smt.Rama Vaidyanathan(held by NrithyaDhwani-Dallas 2015).
- 2015: Guru.Smt.Niraliben Thakore and Guru.Shri.Chandanbhai Thakore (Nrithyabharati “Bharatnatyam”-Ahmedabad-India 2015).
- 2014 : Bollywood Workshop of 12 hours with Ms. Shampa Sonthalia,A Bollywood Choreographer visiting Dallas.
- 2013: Fogana, assisting under strict supervision of Induben Mangrolia. 3rd prize adults/sr.folk/Garbha.
- 97, 98: Professional Kathak Courses Lucknow and Jaipur Gharaanaa/Alternately.

Indian Folk Dance Formal Trainings: Indian Folk Dances Trainings of over 15 years and she teaches each Indian Folk Dance as a DANCE FORM with several styles and variations. Some of popular Indian folk dances are: Bhangra, Gidda, Dandiya, Raas, Gagar, Sambalpuri, Kshetriya, Kallaripatt-Kalaripayattu, Kolattam, Padayani, Koli, India’s Tribal Dances, KummiAdi(Kummiadi), Bihu, Chirmi, Garba-Garbha, Dodhiyu, Lavani, Tippani, Garbi, Ghummar/Ghoomar/Ghoommar, Teratalli, Tera talli, Kalbelia, Garbi, Kumari and many more.
- 1999, 2000, 2015: Exclusvie Indian Folk-Dance Trainings from Guru. Smt. Mallikaben Sarabhai & several other respected teachers of/at Darpana Academy of Performing Arts (Ahmedabad).
- 1999: Navrang and Sri Sharada Kala Mandir for pure folk, fusion art forms and theater plays.
- 1999: She started her journey as a freelance choreographer and have performed/competed or choreographed successfully some of the best Indian dance competitions in exclusive folk, bharatnatyam and Bollywood since then. She started her journey from Ahmedabad, Gujarat-India, Michigan, Kansas and now in Dallas-Fortworth Areas of Texas.
- 1980s-90s: Guru. Smt. Minalben Oza and own mainstream schools(click here for her schools) (Gujarat Folk Guru-Gandhinagar Late 80s/90s).
- 1983 to 1998: She was introduced to non-Gujarati folk dances in her own schools-Mt.Carmel, St.Xaviers(Gandhinagar) representing various states of India where school/visiting faculties trained students with in-depth knowledge of folk dances and variations associated with it.
Performances/Competitions/Fundraisers (India, USA):
- Group performances aired in Doordarshan Television Channels, received titles as in cash prizes/awards in Indian cultural competitions [1999-2003] held by non-profit organizations such as Ahmedabad-YMCA, Rajpath & Local Lions-Rotary Family Clubs located in Ahmedabad, Gujarat-India. Certificates/credentials from non-profit organizations such as Help-Age-India [1993], C.R.Y-India [2001], CRY America Inc. (2015, 2016).
- A total of 20 awards have been awarded to her students for Folk, Fusion, Classical, Semi-Classical, Neo-Classical & Traditional Bollywood Categories
- Most of the awards are won in pure Indian Folk Dances against Classical Dances of India, Bollywood (or Non-classical categories) in Indian Dance Competitions organized all over Gujarat(India until 2003) and all over United States of America(from 2004 to till date: Michigan, Kansas, and finally Dallas-Fortworth/DFW areas).
- Mrs. Hetal Nagaraj takes it as her honor for the wins as the judges of these competitions had Masters In Fine arts from Indian Universities or had completed at-least 2 types of classical Dance Forms (Bharatnatyam+Kathak) with detailed knowledge of Indian Folk Dances as their main theory or practical paper in their degrees. These judges had further inspired Mrs. Hetal Nagaraj to take degree in master’s in fine arts along with family influences which she completed in 2018 with similar curriculum and specialties as in exams and practicals.
Specializations:
- Bharatnatyam(Kalakshetra), Modern Folk-Fusions, Pure Folk Dances of India, Classical Fusions, Lyrical, BollyHop/BollyJazz/Bollywood-Folk/Traditional/Modern/Fusion, Semi-Classical, Neo-Classical-Modern(India)Categories and Indian Contemporary Styles (From Indian Classical & Indian Folk Dances ONLY), Bolly-HipHop/Bollyhop.
- Hetal has showcased famous dances (some with trainings or some with exclusive copyright permits) of Guru.Smt.Minalben Oza, Guru.Smt.Mallikaben Sarabhai & Smt.Induben Mangrola’s conceptual art forms as a tribute in various dances of her own.
Non-Indian & Other Dance Trainings 2011 to 2015 :
- Couple Dance Instructors’ Training Lessons for 6 months (Salsa, Mambo, Ballroom-learned all separately-techniques ONLY. Beginners to Intermediate, Intermediate) from Tony Gavinito (Former Arthur Murray Instructor, Plano-Texas, USA). Venue : Sundanga Dance Center, Carrolton.
- Hiphop/Urban, Jazz, Creative Movements – Dance Council, Coppell Dance Centre – Beginners to Intermediate, Intermediate.
- 2014 : Bollywood Workshop : Creating Choreography & 2 Master Dances – Advance : Shampa Sonthalia
- 2015 : Zumba Certifications. Location : Lewisville, Texas.
Family Background: Knowledge of performing arts and theatre is being passed through generations in her family and Mrs.Nagaraj is the 4th generation to receive it as a gift along with trainings. Grandfather was classical singer and mother was a dance-drama artist with bachelor’s in arts from Mumbai University.
- Most or all her family members have at-least one classical/indian folk or non-classical background either in instruments, singing or dancing. It is just a family thing & Hetal being the first one to register this talent as company.
- She is settled with family of 2 beautiful kids and loving husband. She performs for not only Grace & Grooves | Grace Creations but also competed with national level dance team (Fogana 2013) and does several other non profit events : https://www.facebook.com/hetalnagaraj/

Her passion is to provide not only quality dance education but also teach her students to respect culture and its values. Her students take home in-depth knowledge and love for dance/performing arts as lifelong lessons with awards from well-respected competitions. She performs regularly as lead dancer in all shows of Grace And Grooves. (www.graceandgrooves.com).

Her exclusive dance productions : https://wp.me/p7EbkV-1zy