Shivani Karmarkar is a professional Indian classical Kathak dancer. She studied dance in Pune, India for 18 years. After completing her bachelor's degree in psychology, she did a master's degree in Kathak at Pune University with Guru Shama Bhate, Nadroop and received lessons from Taalyogi Pt. Suresh Talwalkar. In addition to performances in India, Karmarkar-Schürfeld has presented Kathak on international stages, including in Australia, South Korea and Qatar.

She has also performed several times in Germany, for example in 2018 at the Beethovenfest Bonn, together with the Bundesjugendorchester and percussionist and composer Bernhard Schimpelsberger. She also danced at the Global Media Forum in Bonn, organised by Deutsche Welle.

»Shivani Karmarkar is a member of my troupe for the last seven years and has trained with me for the last 14 years. A very talented young artist, Shivani is a diligent and hardworking student. I am sure she will one day become a very high caliber classical dancer of our country.« – Shama Bhateji (Guru, Kathak dancer)