Nupur Mukherjee began her journey into the world of dance at the tender age of three, drawing inspiration from her parents. Dance soon became an integral part of her life, and she had the privilege of learning from renowned dancers such as Meera Das Gupta, Kelucharan Mahapatra, Maruthapa Pillai, and Birju Maharaj. Her schooling took place at Loreto School, where she developed a close bond with her “second mother,” Sister Cyril, and witnessed her dedicated work with street children.

Despite her passion for dance, she  pursued her studies in zoology and married at the age of 20. In 1984, she founded a dance school called Tulir Taney, which quickly grew in popularity. As a dance teacher,she established a national reputation for her work with children with disabilities. She focused on assessment, diagnosis, therapeutic intervention, inclusive education, workforce development, and biomedical research to support their holistic development.

She  joined MonoVikash Kendra, where she encountered special children who inspired her to deepen her commitment to dance therapy. To enhance her understanding, she earned a B.Ed. with a focus on mental disorders. For twelve years, she was invited to conduct various dance programs on Doordarshan, earning accolades and invitations from other popular TV channels like Zee Bangla, Akash Aath, News Bangla, Sristi, 24 Ghanta, and ABP Ananda. Her expertise also led to roles as a special judge in competitions organized by Nehru Talent Search Context, Arya Sangeet, Dover Lane Music Conference, and BAL Shree Talent Search Context.

In 1998, Tulir Taney was registered under the Societies Registration Act of 1981. Her  work with special children demonstrated that dance therapy could significantly improve their ability to express emotions, reduce stress, enhance physical strength and gross motor skills, and boost self-confidence and mental health. Many children enrolled in mainstream schools as part of inclusive education, with some leading fulfilling lives. As a trained Dance Movement Therapist, she  established the “Art of Healing” department, offering workshops and certification for participants.

She  was deeply inspired by her encounter with Mother Teresa, which fueled her commitment to dance movement therapy for special children. In January 2023, she received the India Icon Award for outstanding dance therapy. Additionally, she authored four books on classical dance and Ravindra Nritya Natya, which gained recognition not only in India but also in America, Canada, and Japan. Her performances at a Japanese folk festival in 2015 were highly praised, and she was invited to Japan as a special guest for four consecutive years.

For her outstanding contributions, she  was honored with the Maria Montessori Award in 2016, the Press Club Award in 2017, and the Bismilla Khan Award from the Bihar State Academy of Sports for the Disabled, Government of Bihar, in 2019. She strongly believes in the power of dance therapy to improve eye-hand coordination in children with motor problems, a belief proven in nearly 100 children. Her empathy for mothers suffering from depression due to their children’s illnesses led her to conduct research with mothers of special children.

Her  journey is a testament to her dedication to dance, education, and therapy, leaving an indelible mark on the lives of countless children and their families.

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