As Artistic Director and Founder of Aroha Fine Arts in Ottawa, Canada, Anjali Patil has established herself as a major pillar in the Classical Indian dance movement in Canada and the United States.
With two decades of training in both the physical form and cultural nuances of Kathak, under renowned gurus Padmashri Kumudini Lakhia and Pandita Rohini Bhate in India, Anjali Patil's perspective on Kathak combines reverence of its history, artful awareness of its present, and an artistic vision for the future. In the ancient Sanskrit tradition, Aroha refers to the ascending order of pitch in the classical Indian raga, or music scale. Likewise, mastering the art of the Kathak dance form - as with all forms of artistic expression - is an infinitely ascending journey, requiring both knowledge and experience.
At the age of 13, Anjali Patil received a touring grant from the Secretary of State for Multiculturalism to perform at 13 venues across Canada and the USA with Guru Rohini Bhate. She has since performed at dance festivals and conferences across India, Canada and the United States, earning her true recognition as an international dance artist. Her performances in India include the prestigious Sangeet Natak Akademi's Kathak Festival, Khajuraho Festival, Kolkota Kathak Festival, Kathak Mahotsav in New Delhi and Modera Sun Temple Festival. Anjali Patil is the first Classical Indian Dancer-Choreographer that was presented at the Canadian Museum of Civilization as part of its regular programming season in 2005. Furthermore, Ms. Patil was invited to perform live for CBC Radio-Canada's show "Ce soir en couleur" and two of her works - Mira and Crossbeats were presented at the Canada Dance Festival.
For her efforts in the field of dance, Anjali Patil has received various awards including the Chalmers Performing Arts Award and the Shastri Indo-Canadian Institute's Senior Arts Fellowship.
Anjali Patil has been featured in the publication "Canada & South Asia: Partners for the New Century" 2001, alongside notable filmmaker Deepa Mehta and renowned writer Michael Ondaatje.
In 2004 and 2005, Anjali Patil was highlighted in "Nartanam", India's leading dance magazine. She is regularly featured on Canadian television and radio stations and is actively keeping the Classical Indian dance scene thriving in North America.
