Manasi Deshpande is the Principal of Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan’s Sangeet & Nartan Shikshapeeth, and an award-winning senior Kathak dancer, teacher, choreographer, performer and curator of classical dance platforms. A gold medallist at the Master’s degree level from the University of Pune, she has performed extensively across India and internationally, and has collaborated with leading musicians including Pt. Suresh Talwalkar, Pt. Yogesh Samsi, Pt. Vijay Ghate, Pt. Ramdas Palsule, Trilok Gurtu, Taufiq Qureshi. She is the founder/organiser of Samprati – Kathak Solo Festival and Akhanda Ghungroo Naad, an annual tribute to Pt. Birju Maharaj and Pta. Rohini Bhate.