Today, we have Unnati Ajmera, the daughter of Rajkot, who has made significant strides in Kathak dance. She has also brought great recognition to Rajkot, so we will discuss her today.
Unnati Ajmera, the daughter of the prestigious Ajmera family of Rajkot, is not only a dancer but a unique figure dedicated to reviving and popularizing classical dance in Gujarat, especially Mohiniyattam. His passion for art, which he has had since birth, and the conducive environment provided by his parents, Shailiben and Himmatbhai Ajmera, have inspired him to delve deeper into the field. His younger brother Tanmay is a chess champion, demonstrating the development of talents in various fields in this family.
So now let us know the journey of advancement from education to dance.
So Unnati started learning Bharatanatyam from dance guru Purviben Seth at the young age of eight. This activity, initially started as a fine art, gradually became the focal point of his life. His parents’ open-mindedness encouraged him to pursue his field of interest. Then in class 12, he got admission in the world-famous Nalanda Nritya Kala Mahavidyalaya, affiliated to Mumbai University. There, he received the title of Visharad in Bharatanatyam. And not only that Unnati has also played a great part in Mohiniyattam, which is one of the eight classical dance styles of India, originating mainly from the state of Kerala. It is a solo dance form, traditionally performed by women.
So let us know what is special about Unnati in this Mohiniyattam.
After mastering Bharatanatyam, Unnati focused on Kerala’s highly elegant and poetic dance art, Mohiniyattam. After seven years of intensive training, he obtained a Master’s in Mohiniyattam. Mohiniyattam is known for its delicate gestures, fluid movements, and feminine grace, which is why it is not commonly presented by men.
Unnati chose to focus entirely on Mohiniyattam among the seven classical dance arts of India (Bharatanatyam, Kathak, Mohiniyattam, Kathakali, Odissi, and Kuchipudi), and that is what has now become his life. It is worth mentioning that he is the first person from
Saurashtra-Kutch and the second person from Gujarat to do Sadhana up to Master’s in Mohiniyattam
After Unnati got such a good name, he contributed well to the promotion and awareness of dance.
Unnati is not only a presenter, but also an art campaigner. His guru, Purviben Seth, played an important role in creating awareness for Bharatanatyam in Saurashtra-Kutch. Similarly, Unnati is also focusing on developing awareness and interest for Mohiniyattam. He goes on to give Mohiniyattam demonstrations and lectures at schools, institutions, and various events.
