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Hounslow Kathak dance award

Posted by Lucy Proctor on May 29, 08 02:55 PM in Clubs/societies

A renowned Hounslow dancer received one of India's most prestigious awards.

Pratap Pawar, of Great West Road, Osterley, was presented with the Padmashree award by president Pratibha Patil in New Delhi earlier this month.

Mr Pawar, who runs the Triveni dance company in Hounslow, is considered one of the world's finest Kathak dancers.

The dad-of-two has performed for celebrities, including the Queen and JF Kennedy during a glittering career.

Record-breaking cricketer Sachin Tendulkar and steel tycoon Laxmi Mittal were among the other recipients of the Padmashree award this year. Kathak is a classical north Indian dance known for its fast footwork, pirouettes and improvisation.

Mr Pawar was born in Delhi, where he developed his love for the 2,000-year-old dance form. He moved to Osterley 28 years ago and set up Triveni in Montague Hall the following year.

In 1982 he combined the south Asian art form with traditional flamenco dance, receiving international
recognition for his work.

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