Indian Kathak Dancers, well known all across the world, are usually considered storytellers through their brilliant limb movements and facial expressions. Kathak is one of the major Indian classical dance forms. Kathak is widely practiced and watched all across the world and has garnered huge praise for India and its culture. Kathak Dancers are proficient in one of the eight intricate forms of Indian classical dances that originated in northern India.
Some of the prominent Indian Kathak Dancers are as follows:
Pandit Birju Maharaj: Pandit Birju Maharaj is one of the most renowned Kathak Gurus of India. He was born in a family of exemplary dancers and became the torchbearer of the acclaimed Lucknow Gharana. He is widely acclaimed nationally and globally.
Lakshmi VN: Lakshmi VN is a blessed Kathak dancer with natural inborn artistic talent. She has won several awards for her artistry dancing proficiency. She is a regular participant in prestigious dance festivals like the Andhra Pradesh State Youth Fest and many more.
Manisha Gulyani: Manisha Gulyani is a great Kathak dancer who is well known for her expressions. She is known for her breakthrough performances in all over the country and abroad. She is honoured with many prestigious awards and recognitions and made the country proud for uplifting the art and culture on the global arena.
Najma Ayashah: Najma Ayashah presents the art form of Kathak with extreme innovativeness with a blend of Gypsy dance and folk dance. She is known to have enriched and integrated the great Jaipur tradition of Kathak.
Rani Karnaa: Rani Karnaa was the founder and head of the dance department of the Calcutta School of Music. She has performed at almost all major classical dance festivals in India and has researched and published important works on the Kathak Dance form.
Nalini and Kamalini Asthana: Nalini and Kamalini Asthana are the duet dancers who are regarded for their accuracy, clarity and perfection as the skilled choreographer, presentation specialists. The veteran dancing sisters represent the Benaras Gharana of Kathak.
Pandit Satya Narayana Charka: Pandit Satya Narayana Charka has been recognised as one of the advocator of Indian classical dance Kathak. He has won many prestigious awards, including first place in the All India Dance Competition. He is the Director of the East-West School of Dance.
Shovana Narayan: Shovana Narayan, on the other hand, as a visionary created a transmittable zest that usually rests on a strong foundation. She is also an acclaimed author and social thinker. She has received the Padma Shri Award in 1992.
Nandini Singh: Nandini Singh has been regarded as one of the gifted performer in the scenario of Kathak dance. She has rendered her performances in all prestigious festivals throughout India and abroad. She is the recipient of Senior Fellowship from the Government of India, for her research on "Parans" in Kathak.
Saswati Sen: Saswati Sen is a renowned Kathak Dancer who ranks front in the domain of Kathak dance. She is a senior disciple of Pandit Birju Maharaj. She has been honoured with Sangeet Natak Akademi Award, Sanskriti Award, Shringar Mani Award and Critic"s Recommendation Award.
Prerana Deshpande: Prerana Deshpande has been trained under the great tutelage of the maestro Guru Dr. Rohini Bhate and Sharadini Gole. She has established "Nrityadham", an institute for Kathak dance in Pune.
Pandit Rajendra Kumar Gangani: Pandit Rajendra Kumar Gangani is a renowned Kathak dancer and current Guru of the Jaipur Gharana. He is widely acclaimed for his innovative style and contribution to Kathak. He was honoured with the prestigious Sangeet Natak Akademi Award in 2003.
The Indian Kathak dancers have not only created a realm of sophistication through dance in India, but in foreign lands as well. Their beauty, elegance, accuracy and proficiency are always reflected in their performances.
