Sandhya Purecha (b. 29 December 1965) is a senior Bharatanatyam exponent, Author and renowned practitioner of Indian classical dance. She is the first person to bring on stage the performance in Bharatnatyam style of the entire Abhinaya Darpan dance treatise as defined by Nandikeshwara in Abhinaya Darpan and as choreographed by her Guru Parvati Kumar. Purecha has researched on Kalasa Karana and published it in 2010.
She was bestowed with Sangeet Natak Akademi Award for 2017 for Overall Contribution to Performing Arts.
Purecha is the Chairman of Sangeet Natak Akademi and Chairperson of W20 Engagement Group of G20 India 2023.
Sandhya Purecha is the member of Board of Trustees of Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts.
She represents Government Teachers’ Training Programme at Natyashala on “Rasa” theory since 1994.
Education
Purecha has a PHD (doctorate) in Natya Shastra. Her topic was Natyashastra Theory and Practice of Angikabhinaya in Bharatanatyam.
Books
Translation of Bharata's Natyashastra (languages: Marathi and Gujarati)
Translation of Chapter 7 – Nrityadhyaya of Chatura Damodara's Sangita Darpanam, Acharya Parvati Kumar
Kalasa Karana 2010
Awards
Maharashtra State Cultural Award by the Govt. Of Maharashtra. Sangeet Natak Akademi Award
Performances
Mudra Dance Festival 2023
Sanskriti Mahotsav 2017
Elephanta Festival 2012 Organised by the Maharashtra Tourism Development Corporation (MTDC)