Queen Harish
Harish Kumar (Hindi: रानी हरीश) (1979 – 2 June 2019), known as Queen Harish or Rani Harish, was a folk dancer and choreographer from Rajasthan, India. He worked to protect and promote Rajasthani folk dances like Ghoomar, Kalbelia, Chang, and Bhawai.[1]
Queen Harish | |
|---|---|
 Queen Harish during a dance performance | |
| Born | Harish Kumar 1979 |
| Died | 2 June 2019 (aged 39–40) Jodhpur, Rajasthan |
| Cause of death | Road accident |
| Occupation | Dancer |
| Known for | Rajasthani folk dances |
| Children | 2 |
Early life
changeHarish Kumar was born in 1979 in Jaisalmer, Rajasthan, to a family of carpenters from the Suthar community.[1] He started dancing at age 13. After his parents died young, he began drag dancing to support his sisters.[2] Harish said,
“I am a man, who chooses to dance for a living. That's a reality that I will never ignore. I chose to make the Queen part more regal and not comical.”[3]
Inspired by 'Annu Master,' who performed the first drag dance in Jaisalmer, Harish learned from him.[1] He also practiced American tribal style belly dancing and pole dancing to master feminine movements.[2]
Career
changeHarish performed Rajasthani dances like Ghoomar, Kalbelia, Chang, Bhawai, and Chari in over 60 countries.[4][5] He taught choreography to more than 2,000 students in Japan.[5] His performances were highlights at events like the Jaipur Literary Mela, the Raqs Congress in Brussels, the Belly Dancing Festival in Seoul, and Desilicious in New York City.[6][7] In 2010, he was a semi-finalist on the reality TV show 'India's Got Talent.'[8] He appeared in Bollywood movies like Upadapdu (2003), Jai Gangajal (2016), and The Accidental Prime Minister (2019).[9] In 2007, he featured in Jasmine Dellal's documentary When the Road Bends… Tales of a Gypsy Caravan.[7] He ran a daily show called Queen Harish Program in Jaisalmer, in collaboration with the Rajasthan government, and was invited to perform at Isha Ambani's pre-wedding celebrations in December 2018.[8][1]
Personal life
changeHarish was married and had two sons. He died in a road accident on 2 June 2019 while traveling from Jaisalmer to Ajmer. Three other artists also died in the accident.[10] The Chief Minister of Rajasthan, Ashok Gehlot, said,
“Harish gave a new identity to Jaisalmer with his different dance style. His death is a big loss to the field of folk art.”[10]
References
change- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 "Obituary | Queen Harish, India's 'Dancing Desert Drag Queen'". The Wire. Retrieved 9 February 2024.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 ""Life is a stage and I'm here to dance"". The Times of India. 16 August 2015. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 9 February 2024.
- ↑ Nast, Condé (3 June 2019). "Who was Queen Harish?". Condé Nast Traveller India. Retrieved 9 February 2024.
- ↑ "Rajasthan's famous folk dancer Queen Harish dies in a road accident". The Times of India. 2 June 2019. ISSN 0971-8257.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Asnani, Rajesh (6 June 2019). "Jaipur diary: Rajasthan mourns folk dancer Queen Harish". The New Indian Express. Retrieved 9 February 2024.
- ↑ "Queen Harish of Jaisalmer, Traditional Dancers from Jaisalmer". Jaisalmer Online.
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 Roy, Sandip (22 July 2008). "Queen Harish dances in drag". SFGate. Retrieved 9 February 2024.
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 "Rajasthan's popular folk dancer Queen Harish dies in an accident. Watch his old videos". Scroll.in. Retrieved 9 February 2024.
- ↑ "Harish - Biography". IMDb. Retrieved 9 February 2024.
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 "Famous folk dancer Queen Harish, three other artists pass away in an accident near Jodhpur". The Economic Times. 3 June 2019. ISSN 0013-0389. Retrieved 9 February 2019.