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About

Divaksha Jinabhai

Kathak-trained dancer, choreographer and storyteller in Durban, performing with Rudra Dance Theatre and teaching privately alongside a career in audiology.

Dancer in a black and gold lehenga turning against a carved backdrop

About

A dancer, and an audiologist

Divaksha Jinabhai is a South African dancer, choreographer and storyteller based in Durban. She trained at the Nateshwar Dance Institute and completed her Rangmanch Pravesh in Kathak, and that classical grounding sits underneath everything she choreographs, including the Bollywood and semi-classical work.

She performs with Rudra Dance Theatre, the Durban company founded by Pavishen Paideya in 2017 to build a sustained home for Indian South African dance. With them she has appeared in Shall We Dance at the Playhouse Opera, the annual showcase of Durban's dance scene presented by the South African Dance Teachers' Association.

Alongside the stage work she runs private classes and workshops, and she has spoken about heritage and movement on Lotus FM. She also holds a Master of Science in Audiology from the University of Cape Town, and keeps both careers running at once.

Training
Nateshwar Dance Institute, Rangmanch Pravesh in Kathak
Company
Rudra Dance Theatre, Durban
Stage
Shall We Dance, Playhouse Opera
Broadcast
Lotus FM, Style in the City
Academic
MSc Audiology, University of Cape Town

In the press

Featured

  • The Post Feature

    Showcase of Durban's diverse dance scene returns

    We intend on showcasing the heart and soul of Bollywood and all that Indian culture has to offer.

    On performing with Rudra Dance Theatre in Shall We Dance at the Playhouse Opera, the annual showcase presented by the South African Dance Teachers' Association.

  • Lotus FM Radio

    Steps of Storytelling: Heritage Month

    An episode of Style in the City on how she started dancing, and what she has taken from it since.

    Listen to the episode

Questions

About Divaksha

Who is Divaksha Jinabhai?
Divaksha Jinabhai is a South African dancer, choreographer and storyteller based in Durban. She trained at the Nateshwar Dance Institute and completed her Rangmanch Pravesh in Kathak, performs with Rudra Dance Theatre, and has appeared in Shall We Dance at the Playhouse Opera. She also holds a Master of Science in Audiology from the University of Cape Town.
What styles does Divaksha Jinabhai dance?
Kathak is her classical grounding. She also performs and choreographs Bollywood and semi-classical Indian dance, and that classical training is what her film-style work is built on.
What is Rudra Dance Theatre?
Rudra Dance Theatre is a Durban dance company founded by Pavishen Paideya in 2017 to create and sustain a home for Indian South African dance. Divaksha Jinabhai performs with the company, including in Shall We Dance at the Playhouse Opera, the annual showcase presented by the South African Dance Teachers Association.
Where is Divaksha Jinabhai based?
She is based in Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. She takes bookings across KwaZulu-Natal, including Umhlanga, Ballito, Pinetown, Chatsworth, Phoenix and Pietermaritzburg, and travels nationally on request.
How do I book Divaksha Jinabhai?
Send an enquiry through the form on this site, message +27 79 638 2488 on WhatsApp, or email divaksha.j@gmail.com. Bookings cover stage performance, wedding and sangeet choreography, workshops, private tuition, and corporate or cultural events.

Bookings

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Based in
Durban, South Africa

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