Meet the Pandit Birju Maharaj disciple from Pune who uniquely integrates Kathak with yoga

After getting married, she moved to Singapore for a time before returning to India. She then trained under the legendary Pandit Birju Maharaj in Delhi, travelling there for classes at his school, home, or workshops. This training spanned several enriching years.

In 2017, Parpia founded the Tridhara Institute of kathak in Pune, which represents three streams of learning. The institute focuses on integrating Kathak with yoga and functional training, as these disciplines complement each other for body conditioning in dancers. It also places a strong emphasis on Hindustani music.

In 2017, Parpia founded the Tridhara Institute of kathak in Pune, which represents three streams of learning (Express Photo)

“My journey with Pandit Birju Maharaj was perfectly timed,” Parpia said. “At that time, I stopped teaching and focused entirely on learning and deepening my practice. In 2015, Pandit Birju Maharaj’s organisation, Kalaashram, invited me to perform a 10 to 15-minute piece at one of their dance festivals in Mumbai. I came from Singapore and also participated in a workshop he was conducting at the same time. It was during that workshop that he noticed me for the first time. He looked at me and said, ‘Tum accha nachti ho… lambi ho, chaudi ho, lekin bahot graceful ho. Tum kabhi Delhi aake sikho humare saath.’ (You dance well… You are tall and broad, but you are very graceful. You should come to Delhi someday and learn with us.)”

“It was unusual for dancers to be very tall, as most of the dancers in his troupe were petite. It was a pinch-me moment for me, and it encouraged me a lot. I was already planning to move back from Singapore, and that’s when I decided—this was the beginning of a new chapter in my journey,” Parpia said. “Yogini Didi gave me my roots, and Maharaj Ji gave me my wings.”

Having initially taught as an assistant under her gurus, Parpia later began teaching independently. “Teaching came naturally to me—it’s generally an organic part of a dancer’s journey in India. You start under your guru, and when you’re ready, you teach independently,” she said.

“For me, dance is not just about movement—it encompasses music, yoga, poetry, literature, stagecraft, lighting, scriptwriting, and public speaking. What began as Kathak training evolved into a deep, passionate understanding of the arts, shaping my vision for establishing Tridhara,” Parpia explained.

Now based in Singapore, this Puneite teaches Kathak online to students across India and around the world.

Parpia shared details of her upcoming shows in India. “I will start with a 40-minute solo performance at Kathak Mahotsav in New Delhi beginning March 21. Organised by Kathak Kendra and the Ministry of Culture, it is India’s biggest Kathak festival, making my debut there especially exciting. Following this, my four senior students and I from my dance company will embark on a tour, performing in Lucknow on March 25, Ayodhya on March 28, and Delhi on March 31,” she said.