Grace And Grooves Group Of Companies (G-1) by Hetal Joshi M

 Hetal Nagaraj : Artist Director Of Grace And Grooves LLC

www.hetaln.com 

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• Hetal Nagaraj was launced as drama artist in 1994 (Academic Year : 93-94) | Estd. independent artist :1999 | Company Estd. 2010 | Company Regd. in 2012.

• Classical Background: Video Glimpse.

  • Pre-Elementary Bharatanatyam : Dance Dramas Classical Repertoire 1982 : Age 4 : Formal Trainings of introducing Indian Drama started at the age of 4 from her mother Lt. Daksha M Joshi (Non-Commercial Classical Drama Artist - Dance Drama)

  • Bharatanatyam - Sadhir/Sathir-Sadir : 1984 : Bharatanatyam Trainings From her mother Lt. Daksha M Joshi (Non-Commercial Clasiscal Drama Artist - Dance Dramas): Style: Sadir/Sathir/Ancient Bharatanatyam. Completed in 1990.

  • Bharatanatyam : 1984-85 - Kalakshetra - Age 6 : Formal Bharatnatyam Training started with Ms. Daksha. V. Joshi. Style : Kalakshetra Style. Completed & Started Internships in 1996.​​

  • Professional Kathak :97, 98: Professional Kathak Courses Lucknow and Jaipur Gharaanaa/Alternately. 40 hour trainings / Choreo, Application for Fusion by technique.

  • Post Arangetram Bharatanatyam : 2015: Advance Bharatnatyam Knowledge from Smt.Rama Vaidyanathan(held by NrithyaDhwani-Dallas 2015). Thillana & Above, Post Arangetram Dances. 2015: Natyam & Nritta Knowledge from Smt.Niraliben Thakore and Shri.Chandanbhai Thakore (Nrithyabharati "Bharatnatyam"-Ahmedabad-India 2015).

  • Kalaripayattu : 2015 : Darpana Academy of Performing Arts, Ahmedabad-India. Beginners To Intermediate, Intermediate to Advance. (Style : Thekkan Kalari). Dance & Martial Arts Form.

  • Chhau : 2015 : Completed Chhau with dance drama props and costumes with Full trainings of 20years.​ Styles : Purulia Chhau & Mayurbhanj Chhau. Dance & Martial Arts Form.

  • Degree : Masters in Fine Arts. Year of Completion: 2018. Status : Awaiting Certificates.

    • University : Tamil University-Chennai, India. Education Level : Masters. Check - Dance Linkedin. Education Type : Sponsored Education. Specialization : Bharatanatyam, Theaters/Theatres of India, Dramas, Dance Dramas & Theory of Dance. College : TDES - TiruchirappalI Diocesan Educational Society, Trichy & Tamil University. Branch : Don Bosco School Of Arts & Technology-Kilpauk-Chennai, India. Program Info  : 2 Years Masters Program. Visiting Residency Program : Must come for 25-30 full days at-least 1 of the year (9am to 8pm class - attendance, theory, full costume concert in Bharatanatyam and Musicals, practical dance exams margam and non-margam, nattuvangam, thalam, 2 exam papers and 2 practicals on Folk Dances of India, Creative Dances and Theater/Theatres with thesis & research to one of their locations in India.)

    • Instructors / Teachers & Rehearsals : Jaykishan/Jaykrishnan Ambadi : Graduate of Kalakshetra Foundation-Chennai, India. MFA/same university. Thesis & Dissertation Mentor & Program Guide : Dr. Marie Stella - PHD/Scholar at Tamil University & Owner of Kalai Aalayam Dance Institute, Pondicherry, India. Examiners : PHD / Scholars / Double PHDs From various universities & Stella Ma'am. Program often compared to Harvard Level when it comes to intensity of dances, dance materials, thesis, practices and requirements to get in program. Journey of my Master in Fine Arts : Click Here.

• Indian Folk Dance Formal Trainings: Video Glimpse.

  • Indian Folk Dances Trainings of over 15 years(non.stop) 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. Trainings did not stop after 15 years either with continuous mentorship.

  • 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.

  • Collaborations : 2013: Fogana, assisting under strict supervision of Induben Mangrola for multiple Fogana Age Groups And Categories. 3rd prize adults/sr.folk/Garbha. Video - Click Here.

• ​Bollywood / Movie Dance Trainings : Video Glimpse.

  • 2014 : Bollywood Teachers' Training Workshop of 12 hours with Ms. Shampa Sonthalia, A Bollywood Choreographer visiting Dallas. Level : Instructors Training. Understanding Bollywood Dances from Dance Forms, Creating Choreographies that cater to commercial stages & entertainment. Learned 2 Master Level Dances of 3mins.

  • Guru - Daksha V Trivedi - BA - Fine Arts with Psychology : Mumbai University, India (As stated above).

    • Non-Classical : Indian Folk, Bollywood Industry - Dances, Styles, Trends & Theatre Practices.

    • Classical : Bharatanatyam & Trends & Theater, Musical Dance Dramas.

• Non-Indian Dance Trainings 2011 to 2018 :

  • She was born In Indian Family and raised in diverse/international environment in India with half of family well-spread in USA for over 2 generations now & she has picked the best of both the worlds & trends in her own life along with performing arts. 

  • 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 Journey : 2012 started journey of bollywood hiphop by teaching strength & conditioning class of well-versed break-dancers(Hritik Series/Dhoom Series) at Mustang Recreation Center for Adults(Irving), Disco - Boys Only, and then hiphop from recreational levels to pre-competitions. 2014-2015 Mastered Hiphop/Urban, Jazz, Creative Movements - Dance Council, Coppell Dance Centre - Beginners to Intermediate, Intermediate.Instructors : Keith Green, Ms Kim, Marcella. By 2016, she mastered intermediate to advance with various master level workshops, practice at dance council of North Texas. Keith Green's ALL workshops. Video : Hiphop - NEW - Uploaded!!!!

  • 2015 : Zumba Certifications. Location : Lewisville, Texas

  • Contemporary 2017, 2018 : Christopher Vo (A Broadway artist/NY). Martha Graham's/Broadway Style(New-York).Venue-Booker T Washington, Dallas-Texas. See his participations : Here.​

  • Non Indian Dance Collaborations : Click Here.

• Specializations, Showcases : Videos.

  • 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 Contemporary (Indian & Non Indian), Bolly-HipHop/Bollyhop, Hiphop(urban), Faith Based Dances By Genre & By Religion/Culture (Hindu, Christian & Muslim). 

  • Hetal has showcased famous dances (some with trainings or some with exclusive copyright permits) of Guru.Smt.Minalben Oza, Gujarati Literature/Sahitya, Tamil Literature/Sahitya, Telugu Literature, Annamacharya Keerthis, Rukmani Devi Arundale, Guru.Smt.Mallikaben Sarabhai & Smt.Induben Mangrola's conceptual art forms as a tribute in various dances of her own.

  • Hetal Nagaraj has taken performing arts as her subject through out her schooling, college and later continued as paid artists to freelancer and complete 360-degree artist industry from teaching to studio setup! She has been part of several studio-institutional industry-requirements in India and USA. With this, g2dancefactory is her very first own - build to use - without any partnership or collabs but otherwise her 8th remodel work and otherwise g2 is the 3rd american-studio-with full safety protocols and usage. 

• Performances/Competitions/Fundraisers (India And USA): Videos/Pictures/Links

  • 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).Videos of these competitions-Click Here.

  • 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.

  • She has performed on several works of Hema Maalini ji - Natyavihar Kalakendra, Mumbai,  Rama Vaidyanathan ji,  several dances from the productions of Darpana Academy-Ahmedabad & enjoys the dances of Parshwanath Upadhyaye. 

• Family & Inspirations : 

  • Inspirations of performing arts from family itself.

  • She is settled with family of 2 beautiful kids and loving husband. 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.

  • Outside Family Inspiration from Darpana Academy Performing Arts, Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India.

• Success Ratio & Graduates By 2020 : 

  • Hetal Nagaraj's students are celebrating their 250th, 450th hour Bollywood, 350th or 400th hour in Indian Folk Dances (once week), 60th hour Hiphop, 30th hour Contemporary, 150th hour in Kalaripayattu, for some the journey has began and are about to touch their 100th hour & some at 500th hour in Bharatanatyam(some twice week) & the history continues.

  • Several Students are at National level and made it International NEWS in 2021. That is just our own owner's Hetal contribution and capacity with results + Choreographers teach.

  • Graduate Students : Hetal Nagaraj has 100s of Graduates just in USA and has instructed / taught 2500+ students all over in India and USA by 2020 March with curriculam & by genre.

  • Workshop Students : Hetal Nagaraj has given workshops to 50 to 2000 students - at a time, in DFW-Texas, USA in Indian Folk, Festival Folk Dances, Bharatanatyam Introduction, Fusion Classical Dances Work, Yoga & Dance Projects, Kalari & Bharatanatyam, Chau & Bharatanatyam, Kalari & Bollywood/Tollywood as well as Bollywood/Tollywood in DFW areas of North Texas.

• Performance Record : 

  • Hetal performs every year 3 to 4 performances in her own shows itself in DFW-Texas except for March to Dec 2020 due to Covid when lockdown happened.

  • From 1999-2020, she has performed over 150+ performances, a minimum, by genre in her OWN shows or events organized by her or her OWN teachers in USA & India.

  • Other 150+ performances for outside shows/events/culture events with minimum of 2 to 3 of those events per year. This is 300+ dances in Solo(s) & Group/Paid and Unpaid Projects. ALL on stage. These are not youtube channel dances! 

  • In 2021, she went LIVE with her Bharatanatyam 7th arangetram with international audience over Zoom & Youtube Invite LIVE.

• Awards :

  • Winner of 4 International Awards from culture, leadership, upbringing of women/youth, entrepreurship, educator and 28+ Competition/Students Awards/ ALL Non-Voting Events.

  • News & Awards  |  Awards & Nominations with International Publishings

  • Her recognitions & award nominations are published in newspapers such as Times Of India, India Today, Divya Bhaskar, Aamtek News, Vatsalya News, Hello Gujarat TV Channel and many others.

• Education : www.hetaln.com | Business Linkedin : ​Click Here | Social Media(s): Dance Linkedin: Click Here.

• Hetal Nagaraj's Artist Collaborations Outside Grace And Grooves LLC - Click Here.

• Hetal Nagaraj's Artist Collaborations with own team - Click Here  | Video Clips.

• Social Media Links : Facebook, Youtube.

• Nicknames : Often known to her friends as hets, hetvi, hetal, heetal, hethal, heta or hetu, or Ms. hetal.