Pushkala Gopal

Pushkala Gopal obtained her BA Honours degree in Mathematics and Economics in 1974. She was awarded a postgraduate diploma in Bharatanatyam in 1977 by the Ministry of Education, India. In 1983, Pushkala was awarded the British council Fellowship and spent a year at Trent Park studying western techniques of theatre, dance and education. She has pioneered several education projects nationally. Pushkala makes regular appearances in Master classes, lectures and performances in India and other parts of the world. Since 1977, she has worked as a freelance performer, lecturer teacher, choreographer, writer, consultant, and composer.

Artistic Creations

Production, performance and touring of dance theatre work including Adventures of Mowgli and Return of Spring as Artistic Director of Akademi 1985-87

As Director of Mudralaya, created and performed in Tapestry of Tales, Beauty and the Beast, Twilight, Taming of the Shrew, Shanti and Secret of Life

Choreographed special dance piece for Queen’s inauguration of the Nehru Gallery at V&A museum

Featured in several performances at the Nehru Centre

Choreographed Devi Diva for North West dance Alliance, 2005

Directed several children’s productions to date and created many dance and music pieces

Lecturer/ Educational projects

Lectured at the Laban Centre’s Community dance MA, Surrey University’s dance graduate and postgraduate programmes, Middlesex University’s dance and music degree modules and Goldsmith College’s Drama course

Taught regularly at summer schools in US and Europe.

Assistant Director in Academi’s Coming of Age project at the South Bank Center, 2001

Served as senior monitoring examiner and vice chair of South Asian Dance faculty

Played an active role in formulating Bharatanatyam syllabus for ISTD

Several students have completed their Arangetram in Bharatanatyam and Carnatic vocal under the tutelage of Pushkala Gopal

Awards

National Scholarship for Advanced training in Bharatanatyam, Ministry of Education, 1975

Singar Mani, title from Sur Singar Samsad, Bombay 1977

Natya Purna award from Bharatakalanjali, Chennai 1979

British Council Fellowship, 1983

Time Out Dance Award, 1988

Digital dance award, 1988

Gulbenkin award for musical studies, 1992

Congratulations for winning the Art Council and Milap Fest award for Distinguished services in the field of Bharatanatyam, 2015