Shashi Sankhla Biography 
Shashi Sankhla is an exponent of Kathak dance form, who practises Jaipur Gharana. She is a recipient of the prestigious Sangeet Natak Akademi Awards in 2008. She is the founder of Geetanjali Music Society, which promotes Kathak dance form. She retired as the principal of Jaipur Kathak Kendra. Shashi Sankhla is one of the foremost disciples of Guru Pandit Kundan Lal Gangani. An artistic director and performer, she started her career as a teacher at the age of 19 in the late 1960s and has trained countless students.
Dr. Shashi Sankhla hails from Jodhpur, Rajasthan. She was born on 28 October 1948. She started her formal training in Kathak from Pandit Mool Chand Gometi, followed by Pandit Mohan lal Maharaj and Pt. Kundanlal Gangani, who taught her Jaipur style of dancing. She also learnt Bharatanatyam from Guru Pratibha Pandit, Baroda vocals from Pt. Kshirsagar, Pakhawaj from Pt. Badrinarayan Pareek and Folk Dances under Master Kasim ji. Yet throughout her career, she mostly concentrated towards Kathak dance form.
As a dance teacher she started off at the age of 19. She has been regular in her stage performances as well. She is one among the gifted artists of her time, who received acclamation internationally. Her daughter Reema Ghoyal follows her footsteps, and is currently one of the well-known Kathak artists of present day generation. She is a performer, dance teacher as well as choreographer. As a teacher, Shashi has taught at Rashtriya Kala Mandal in Jodhpur followed by Jaipur Kathak Kendra. She has been associated with Jaipur Kathak Kendra for long 28 years since 1978 and retired as Principal in 2006. Currently she is training students at Geetanjali Music Society, Jaipur, a dance school started by her.
Published: September 26, 2018
Updated: September 26, 2018
