Biographie
Sanjay Khatri is renowned as the nation's pioneering male figure in the art form and India's first male ballet dancer and maestro. He is also considered the first male ballet dancer from India to perform internationally.
Early Life:
Khatri hails from Narela, near the Delhi-Haryana border, where he spent his formative years assisting his grandfather on the family farm. His introduction to ballet came through witnessing performances by Farukh Ruzimatov, a celebrated Russian ballet dancer. Despite lacking prior exposure to Western dance forms, Khatri was captivated by Ruzimatov's artistry, inspiring him to embark on his ballet journey at the age of 19.
Personal Life:
Khatri's decision to pursue ballet at a relatively advanced age challenged conventional norms within the dance community, where dancers typically commence training at a much younger age. He was offered a scholarship in ballet at the American Embassy School, where, amidst predominantly female peers, many of whom were foreigners, he encountered various challenges.
Despite financial hurdles, Khatri embarked on a quest to establish himself as a professional ballet dancer. He commenced teaching ballet to children at the American Embassy School in Delhi and secured a scholarship to attend a workshop at the Teatro Colón in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Additionally, he earned scholarships at the Seoul Tanz Station in Seoul, South Korea.
Career: Khatri's aspirations materialized when he secured an internship at the Universal Ballet Company, participating in the production of Giselle by the American Ballet Theatre in Seoul. His repertoire spans an array of classical ballets, including Giselle, Paquita, Don Quixote, Sleeping Beauty, La Bayadere, Romeo & Juliet, and Tchaikovsky's Swan Lake. Despite encountering challenges as a male dancer in what is often perceived as a female-centric art form, Khatri has remained steadfast in his commitment to challenging stereotypes and advocating for ballet's inclusivity for both genders.
Beyond his performances, Khatri has played a pivotal role in nurturing the growth of ballet in India by founding two ballet schools: the Nijinsky Ballet School in New Delhi and the Central Contemporary Ballet in Mumbai. Through these initiatives, he endeavours to cultivate the next generation of ballet dancers and raise awareness of ballet within the Indian dance community.
Staying true to his vision, Khatri became the first Indian ballet teacher to train a young boy from a slum, Prince Sharma, aiding him in securing a full 100% Artistic scholarship at the Kirov Ballet Academy in Washington DC, with the staunch support of Mrs. Julia H. Moon, General Director of the Universal Ballet Company. He has similarly assisted numerous other ballet dancers in obtaining scholarships abroad.
Khatri has also garnered recognition as the first Indian male ballet dancer and India's only male ballet dancer in publications such as Elle Magazine, DNA Mumbai, Times of India, Punjab Kesari, and Caravan Magazine.
