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V. Anuradha Singh
V. Anuradha Singh is an Indian Classical dancer from India. V. Anuradha Singh is credited with discovering classical foot percussion instrumental. Currently she is recognized internationally as only percussionist of feet bells.

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V. Anuradha Singh, Indian Kathak DancerV. Anuradha Singh is one of the most acclaimed instrumentalists of Indian classical world today. She is highly energetic instrumentalist of Madhya Pradesh, Bhopal. Endowed with a fascinating personality and highly imaginative mind, she brings to foot bells recital not only a mastery of technique that is the fruit of a thorough and meticulous training, but a total involvement in dance, a profound confidence and a joyous spontaneity that infuses her performance with rare intensity and authority.

Early Life of V. Anuradha Singh
She achieved Master`s degree in Kathak with Merit (Gold-medal) from Indira Kala Sangeet University in Khairagarh district, Chhatisgarh. She did her scholarship and fellowship in Kathak dance from Ustad Allaudin Khan Sangeet Academy M.P. Govt. and trained under the guidance of Late Pt. Kartikramji and Pt. Ramlal, Pt. Durgalal and Birju Maharaj. She is also trained in Varanasi, Lucknow, Ajrara, Punjab and Delhi percussive Gharanas. Her new work series that looks at landmark decisions, creative ideas, inventions, endeavours that have made a definitive difference; Anuradha gave new direction and changed the course and broadened the horizons.

Career of V. Anuradha Singh
She discovered Classical foot percussion instrumental. For the first time in history of classical music field, she brings `Solo Classical Ghunghroo Vadan` to the stage which focuses solely on foot bell in classical manner (100 minutes, non-stop in one place) for pure Music Festivals. She has been recognized for best classical music by foot bell (an ancient traditional work in technique, rhythmic understanding and ability to improvise with speedy rhythms). She tried for unique art of pure classical music by foot bell based on different percussive Gharanas It takes great dexterity, superb control, stamina and physical strength with constant practice. Ghunghroo playing technique involves extensive use of the toe and heel (apply pressure) in various configurations to create a wide variety of different sounds, reflected in the mnemonic syllables. She has made an exhaustive effort to preserve and expand Indian heritage & culture by adding one more chapter to the conferring glory of classical music.

Everybody has seen the movement of hands and vocalizations through mouth but playing the ghunghroo through feet in a pure classical manner is novel and unprecedented research. She initiates something as unique and untried. She has taken over it through systematic research in order to pay tribute to one of the most antique musical instrument of world cultural heritage. Her aim is to promote, preserve and broaden the vision so that the lesser known art forms which are like a jewel lying at the bottom of the ocean can get the distinct identity as a persisting entity in our musical heritage.

Performances of V. Anuradha Singh

List of recent performance and achievements in India by V. Anuradha Singh to name a few:

Madhya Pradesh

•Khajuraho Festival
•Pachmarhi Festival
•Ustad Allauddin Khan Sangit Festival, Maihar
•Vindya Festival & Bhojpur Festival
•M.P.VidhanSabha; Saraswati Prasang, Bharat Bhavan
•Basantotsav Festival
•Ustad Rahamat Ali Festival
•Nana Panse Sangeet Mahotsav
•Poonam-Annual Festival of Indira Gandhi National Museum
•NRI Conference Bharat Bhawan
•Baiju Bawra National Music Festival, Sanskar Bharti

Uttar Pradesh
•International Taj Festival, Agra
•Lucknow Mahotsav
•Ganga Festival, Varanasi
•Ayurveda Jhansi Mahotsav, Jhansi

Rajasthan

•Rajasthan Day, Albert Hall, Jaipur
•National Music Festival, Jaipur
•Udai Shankar Festival, Jaipur
•Maharana Kumbha Samaroh, Udaipur

Chhattisgarh
•`Rajyotsav`Chhattisgarh Foundation day
•Khairagarh Mahotsav, IKS University Khairagarh
•Bhoramdeo Mahotsav, Kavardha
•Chakradhar Festival, Raigarh

Maharashtra

•Kalidas Festival, Nagpur
•Pune Festival
• National Center for Performing Arts (NCPA) Mumbai
•Ellora-Ajanta Festival, Aurangabad
•Solapur Festival, Solapur

Uttaranchal

•Virasat Heritage Festival, Dehradun REACH
•Badri-Kedar Festival, Badrinath

Goa

•Classical Music Festival, Goa

Gujarat

•Modhera International Dance Festival
•Champaner Festival, Baroda

Bihar

•International Buddha Mahotsav, Gaya
•International Rajgir Mahotsav, Rajgir

Karnataka

•Navraspur National Festival, Bijapur
•Alva`s Virasat National Cultural Festival, Mudabidri
•Karavali Festival, Mangalore

Andaman & Nicobar Islands

•Island Tourism Festival, Port Blair

Kerala

•Malabar Festival, Kolikod

Chandigarh

•The Festival of Chandigarh

Delhi

•India International Centre
•Delhi International Arts Festival
•International conference in Delhi University

West Bengal

• Uday Shankar Festival, Kolkata

Andhra Pradesh

•Deccan Dance Festival, Hyderabad

•Golconda Music and Dance Festival, Hyderabad

Punjab

•Baba Harballabh Sangit Malhar sabha, Jalandhar

Awards of V. Anuradha Singh She has been awarded with

•Wamankar Samman in 1991
•Kala Manishi Samman
•Rajiv Gandhi National Unity Award in 2004
•International Women Excellence Award 2008
•Rai Praveen Samman 2008
•Tulika Samman
•Abhinav Kala Samman 2009
•Kala Sadhna Samman 2009
•Indira Gandhi Priyadarshini Award 2009
•Woman of Bhopal Award 2010

With her performances Anuradha Singh has successfully captivated audiences around the world. She made her debut at Festival of India in Moscow, USS in 1987 at the age of 18 years. Thereafter she visited as a solo performer in USA, UK, Germany, France, Singapore, Pakistan (International Performing Arts Festival) and was well received. Anuradha has performed at numerous concerts in India and throughout the world.
V.Anuradha Singh`s solo Classical Ghunghru (foot bell) Recital focuses solely on footwork of Indian percussion gharana. Ghunghru playing technique involves extensive use of the toe and heel in various configurations to create a wide variety of different sounds, reflected in the mnemonic syllables (bol). Anuradha hold vast amounts of traditional compositional knowledge and expertise. She researched the unique aspects of each percussion gharana through rigorous training. By integrating intense cardiovascular and weight- bearing exercises with the rhythmical mathematics of feet, she forms a perfect union between tabla and feet, with the goal to achieve pure Indian classical instrumental based on the style of famous 6 percussion Gharanas. The earliest percussion instruments were our hands and feet. Ghunghru is one of the oldest and most popular musical feet percussion instruments in the India. "The Ghunghroo" is unique and complete and yet no one thought of playing it independently as a recital, it was always considered as an appendage to various dance forms. It takes great dexterity, infinite patience, superb control, stamina, physical strength and inexhaustible memory bank to incessantly play Ghunghroo rhythmically for more than an hour. She presents complex and speedy rhythmic classical compositions with feet continuously moving at one place (2 by 2 feet). Ghunghru recital displays a dazzling virtuosity. With amazing crystalline beauty of tone, clarity of stroke, incredible speed, awesome variety, charm, wit, and a charismatic playfulness.


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