A Thanksgiving Dance Show by Haleem Khan

Haleem Khan
I was born and finished most of my education in Ongole, Andhra Pradesh. My parents Shri Raheed and Shrimati Mehetaj, have encouraged and nurtured my passion for performing arts. Bred in a rich mix of fabric of Islamic and Telugu culture, I have been attracted to the Indian Traditional dance, especially to the art of Kuchipudi Dance. I have been practicing this dance since a tender age of nine. I was trained under the revered Guru Sri K.V Subrahamanyam, disciple of the venerated Guru Sri (Dr.) Vempati China Satyam.

An MBA by qualification, I live in Hyderabad and had given more than 800 solo and group performances all over India and abroad.

I have given more than 800 solo and group performances all over India. The highlights being those held in Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Maharashtra - the representative shows have been at the Ravindra Bharati, the Russian Art Theatre at Chennai, Tirupathi Bramostavallu at Tirupathi, Humpi Festival at Humpi, All India Craft Mela at Shilparaman Crafts Village at Hyderabad, Dasara Festival at Mysore, 10th National Youth Festival held at the Lal Bahadur Stadium Hyderabad, a 12 hour dance show Akhanda Annamayya Nrutyabhinaya Yagnam at Guntur. Further, I have participated and performed on numerous occasions in Hyderabad - at the People's Plaza on the Necklace Road Hyderabad, at the Asian Youth Festival, American Telugu Association Festival at Shilpakala Vediaka and the Secunderabad Carnival at Harihara Kalabhavan at Secunderabad.

A dedicated student of this splendid art form, being drawn to its rich cultural legacy, my performances are characterized by Classical Kuchipudi style and much more. The very mode of display, restrained movements as smooth as the flow of honey, scintillating footwork, sequential furtive glances - and all this with the innocence and agility of a young deer, holds the audience spell bound!

I am one of those very few dancers who can also take to the female dance form with equal grace and ease, specially when dancing as Sri Satya Bhama.

I have worked in several dance schools, in Andhra Pradesh including Hyderabad and taught dance to school students on the invitation of these schools. A highly talented and appreciated dance professional, I have won many accolades and gold medals in numerous classical dance competitions. A keen composer, I have demonstrated this on many occasions by composing both classical and fusion music themes, which have orchestrated my performances.