GUJARAT UNIVERSITY

AHMEDABAD

UPASANA

UPASANA RANG MANCH

ABOUT UPASANA

Upasana School of Performing Arts is an endeavor of Gujarat University. It has

been started with keeping in mind the changing cultural scenario and seeing to

the demands of today's youth for literacy in culture. Upasana School of

Performing Arts in the Gujarat University has uplifted the level & aesthetics of

education giving it as artistic approach and openness. Art has no barrier & we

have also seen that through art, especially performing arts, education can be

demonstrated & explained even better.

Upasana School of Performing Arts is an endeavour of Gujarat University

founded 2011. Upasana has opened its doors for young aspiring artists who can

pursue their masters in Hidustani Classical Vocal, Tabla, Sitar, theatre, Kathak

and Bharat-Natyam.

The entire department is headed by Dr. Viraj Amar Bhatt, leading disciple of

Padma-Bhushan Pts. Rajan Sajan Mishra. She herself is a renowned Hindustani

Classical Vocalist of high caliber, an international performer and Gujarat Gaurav

Puraskaar awardee. She has very lovingly nurtured the department since its

inception.

The educative journey of masters at Upasana exposes the students not only to

the theoretical and practical aspects of post graduates learning, but also

exposes the students to maximum performances, workshops, seminars and

symposiums for participation and one to one interaction with stalwarts, experts,

Gurus and renowned artists in the field of Performing arts. The faculty consists

of highly skilled Gurus and teachers in the respective field.

Objectives:

To run Masters and short term courses in performing arts from the centre

leading to awarding Master degree, diplomas and certificates.

To increase knowledge, awareness and interest amongst the students in

all the fields of performing arts by inviting maestros for interactive

sessions with students

To provide opportunities for performances and training for other

institutions, government, semi-government and non-governmental

organizations

To initiate and develop projects for demonstrations and research

To run and maintain a reference centre with books, periodicals, films,

videos and other audio-visual material.

To print and publish pamphlets, educative materials for the promotion of

the centre

To organize lectures, seminars, workshops, debates, symposiums and

other relevant programs in arts

To interact with educational or other institutions in any part of the world

having objectives wholly or partly similar to those of the centre.

Courses offered at Upasana

FIVE YEAR INTEGRETATED COURSE(B.P.A.+M.P.A.)

1 Vocal

Eligibility Criteria: 10 +2 from any Board

2 Percussion

3 Non –Percussion

4 Kathak 5 Bharatnatyam

6 Thetre

MASTERS IN PERFORMING ARTS

1 Vocal Eligibility Criteria: A Bachelor degree in

any field plus minimum FIVE years experience

in the chosen field

2 Percussion

3 Non –Percussion

4 Kathak 5 Bharatnatyam

6 Thetre

Short Term Courses:

1 Sound Engineering 3 Months Shri Ramesh Tale

2 Studio Techniques 3 Months Shri Ramesh Tale

3 Music Appreciation 3 Months Dr. Smt. Viraj Amar Bhatt

4 Theatre Production 3 Months Shri Chintan Pandya

CERTIFICATE COURSES: (6 Months)

No Course Name No. of Stude

nts

Fees Examination Pattern

Admission Criteria

Faculty

1 Haveli Sangeet

15 12,000 At the End of the Course

10th Pass H.H Abharan

Goswami, Shri Niraj

Parikh 2 Lok Sangeet 15 12,000 At the End of

the Course 10th Pass Shri

Yogesh Gadhvi

3 Art, Artists and Event

Management

15 20,000 At the End of the Course

12th Pass -

4 Sangeet 4 All Collaborative

Teacher’s Training Program

10 20,000 At the End of the Course

BPA or Equivalent

Vidushi Saskia Rao-de Haas

FACULTY OF UPASANA:

DR. SMT. VIRAJ AMAR

CHIEF CO- ORDINATOR’S PROFILE

Dr. Viraj Amar is Hindustani Classical

Vocalist and the senior disciple of Pts.

Rajan-Sajan Mishra, the acknowledged

maestros of the Benaras Gharana. As

Gujarat’s most promising Hindustani

Vocal artist, Dr. Viraj is committed to the

cause of upholding and promoting India’s

rich musical heritage. She is at present,

working as the founder Director & Chief

Coordinator of Upasana School of

Performing Arts, Department of

Performing Arts- Gujarat University. She is

a “Gujarat Gaurav Puraskar” awardee. She

is an “A” Grade Artist of All India Radio

and Doordarshan. She has been the

Executive member and General Council

member of national body of Sangeet-

Natak Academy since- 2015.

Panel Gurus At Upasana :

Padma Bhushan Pts. Raja-Sajan Mishra: Hindustani Vocal

Pts. Raja-Sajan Mishra are doyens of

Benaras Gharana and acclaimed as

Musicians and Performers of highest

repute.

Pts. Raja-Sajan Mishra have been

associated with Upasana since 2011 as

Panel Gurus. They regularly take

workshops with the students of Upasana.

Su.Shree Saswati Sen: (Kathak- Dance)

Saswatiji is the senior most disciple of Padma

Vibhushan Pt. Birju Maharaj. She is herself a

Sangeet-Natak Academy awardee and

extremely popular performer and a Guru.

She has been associated with Upasana since

2011 as Panel Guru and regularly conducts

workshops at Upasana.

Expert Faculty:

Smt. Manju Mehta: (Sitar)

Smt. Manju Mehta is a top Grade

Artist of All India Radio and

Doordarshan. She is senior disciple of

Pt. Ravi Shankar. She has been

associated with Upasana since 2011 as

Advisory Member, Expert and

teacher. She is the managing trustee

of “Saptak School of Music”.

Shree Vishnu Sahay: (Tabla)

Shree Viashnu Sahay is chief exponent

of Tabla of Benaras Gharana.

Dr. Sandhya Purecha: (Bharat

Natyam)

Dr. Sandhya Purecha is a renowned Dancer

and a scholar in the field of Bharat Natyam.

Shri Raju Barot: (Theatre)

Shri Raju Barot is a renowed theatre Actor

and Director. He has been associated with

Upasana since 2017.

Dr. Mahesh Champklal Shah: (Theatre)

Dr. Mahesh Champklal Shah has been

associated with Upasana since 2011 as

Advisory Member, Expert and teacher. He

has been Ex. Dean of Theatre Department of

M.S. University, Baroda.

Dr. Rajesh Kelkar: (Hindustani Vocal)

Dr. Rajesh Kelkar is Head of the Department of

Vocal M. S. University, Baroda and Vocalist of

high caliber.

VISITING FACULTY AT UPASANA:

VOCAL:

Shri Niraj Parikh Shri Mahendra Toke Dr. Shwetketu Vohra

Shri Vaibhav Dave Smt. Janki Mistry Shri Shirish Pandit

Smt Dharti Mehta

TABLA:

Shri Munjal Mehta Shri Sapan Anjaria Smt Hetal Mehta Joshi

THEATRE:

Shri Ashish Ketkar Shri Shrikant Bilgi Shri Chintan Pandya

Shri Satyendrasinh Parmar Shri Chetan Daiya

KATHAK:

Smt. Ishira Parikh Smt. Harsha Thakkar Smt Raina Parikh

BHARATNATYAM:

Smt. Nirali Chandan Thakore Smt. Sarmishtha Sarkar

ALUMNI:

Satyendra Parmar: Theatre and TV artist, runs his own theatre group

Gopal Barot: Theatre and TV artist

Ujas Chavda: Tutor at Gujarat College theatre department

Bhumik Trivedi: Tutor at Gujarat College theatre department

Chetan Daiya: Theatre and TV artist

Parmeshwar Sirsikar: Theatre and TV artist, former faculty member

at JG college of Performing Arts theatre department

Parv Tapodhan: Recording artist and learning sitar under Pt. Basant

Kabra

Janki Mistri: Running her own music classes

Pranav Pandya: working as a tutor and tech-staff in Saptak School of

Music

Pratima Anandjiwala: senior disciple of Smt. Manju Mehta and

working as a tutor in Saptak School of Music

Varsha Gandhi: senior disciple of Smt. Manju Mehta and working as

a tutor in Saptak School of Music

Gaurav Pathak: Violin tutor and a Freelancer recording artist

Raina Limachia: Performer in the dance group of Smt. Ishira Parikh

Kalrav Dave: Running his own dance classes and a freelancer

PERFORMANCES AND ACTIVITES OF

UPASANA SCHOOL OF PERFORMING ARTS

Workshop of Pt. Rajan Mishra Lec-dem of H.H Goswami

Gokulotsav Maharaj

(In collaboration with

Vallabh Sadan Trust)

Workshop of Pt. Vishnu Sahay

PERFORMANCES IN COLOBARATION WITH SANGEET NATAK ACADEMY FOR

BEGUM AKHTAR FESTIVAL

Performances at Gujarat University Programs

At Premiere of “Karsandas Pay & Use” with Chetan Daiya & Shri Nimesh Desai

Bhavai Workshop with Shri Janak Dave

VISION

To establish a National Centre for preservation & promotion of classical,

traditional & contemporary performing arts

To disseminate knowledge, promote appreciation, provide training and

undertake scientific research in these fields for cultural enrichment of our

society

To establish, equip and maintain schools, auditorium, libraries, archives,

museums, studios, workshops and other facilities necessary to fulfil the

above objectives

To develop Upasana as an ambassador of Indian performing arts

representing our culture on international platforms