List of Kathak dancers
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This is a list of the
Sangeet Natak Akademi Sangeet Natak Akademi (The National Academy of Music, Dance and Drama in English) is the national level academy for performing arts set up by the Government of India. History It was set up by the Indian education ministry on 31 May 1952 and ...
awards for the Indian classical dance form of
Kathak Kathak ( hi, कथक; ur, کتھک) is one of the eight major forms of Indian classical dance. It is the classical dance from of Uttar Pradesh. The origin of Kathak is traditionally attributed to the traveling bards in ancient northern Ind ...
, as well as gurus and well-known performers.


Sangeet Natak Akademi awardees

*
Shambhu Maharaj Pandit Shambhu Maharaj (1910 – 4 November 1970) was a Guru of the Lucknow ''Gharana'' (school) of the Indian classical dance form, Kathak. Early life and training Shambhu Maharaj was born in Lucknow as Shambhunath Mishra. He was the younges ...
1955 *
Sunder Prasad Pandit Sunder Prasad (died 29 May 1970 ) was a guru (teacher) of - Jaipur Gharana of the Indian classical dance form, Kathak. He received his training from his father Pandit Chunnilal of Jaipur Gharana. He also trained under Bindadin Maharaj of ...
1959 * Mohanrao Kallianpurkar 1962 *
Birju Maharaj Pandit Birju Maharaj (born Brijmohan Nath Mishra; 4 February 1938 – 16 January 2022) was an Indian dancer, composer, singer, child molester and exponent of the Lucknow "Kalka-Bindadin" Gharana of Kathak dance in India. He was a descendant o ...
1964 *
Damayanti Joshi Damayanti Joshi (5 September 1928 – 19 September 2004) was a noted renowned exponent of the Kathak dance form.She believed Kathak is the art of storytelling. She began in the 1930s dancing in Madame Menaka's troupe, which travelled to many pa ...
1968 *
Sitara Devi Sitara Devi (named Dhanlakshm; 8 November 1920 – 25 November 2014) was an Indian dancer of the classical Kathak style of dancing, a singer, and an actress. She was the recipient of several awards and accolades, and performed at several pres ...
1969 *
Roshan Kumari Roshan Kumari Fakir Mohammad is an Indian classical dancer, actor and choreographer, considered by many as one of the foremost exponents of the Indian classical dance form of Kathak. She follows the Jaipur Gharana and is the founder of ''Nritya ...
1975 * Rohini Bhate 1979 *
Kumudini Lakhia Kumudini Lakhia (born 17 May 1930) is an Indian Kathak dancer and choreographer based in Ahmedabad, Gujarat, where she founded Kadamb School of Dance and Music, an institute of Indian dance and music in 1967. A pioneer in contemporary Kathak d ...
1982 *
Durga Lal Pandit Durga Lal (1948 - 21 January 1990) was a renowned Kathak dancer of the Jaipur Gharana. He was born in Mahendragarh, Rajasthan. He is known for playing the main role in the 1989 dance drama ''Ghanashyam'', the music of which was composed ...
1984 * Uma Sharma 1987 *
Maya Rao Maya Rao (2 May 1928 – 1 September 2014) was an Indian classical dancer, choreographer and educator, in Kathak dance. She is known for her pioneering work in Kathak choreography, especially in dance ballets, and is credited for bringing Kath ...
1989 * Rani Karnaa 1996 * Shovana Narayan 1999-2000 * Rajendra Gangani 2002 * Sunayana Hazarilal Agarwal 2003 *
Saswati Sen Saswati Sen is an Indian dancer and choreographer, and an exponent of Kathak, an Indian classical dance form. She was a senior disciple of Pandit Birju Maharaj, and still teaches and performs at his Kalashram Institute in the Jor Bagh distric ...
2004 *
Munna Shukla Munna Shukla (7 December 1943- 11 January 2022) was a Kathak guru and choreographer of Lucknow Gharana based in New Delhi, India. Born to a family who has been involved in dance for generations, Munna Shukla specialized in Kathak, a classical dan ...
2006 * Geetanjali Lal 2007 *
Shashi Sankhla Shashi Sankhla, (born 28 October 1948), is an exponent of the Jaipur gharana of Kathak dance in India. She is a Senior Disciple of Guru Pt. Kundan Lal Gangani Ji. She has been awarded by Sangeet Natak Akademi Awards 2008 in Kathak dance. She wa ...
2008 *
Prerana Shrimali Prerana Shrimali is a senior dancer of Jaipur Gharana of Kathak Kathak ( hi, कथक; ur, کتھک) is one of the eight major forms of Indian classical dance. It is the classical dance from of Uttar Pradesh. The origin of Kathak is tradi ...
2009 * Vijay Shankar 2012 *
Uma Dogra Uma Dogra (born 23 April 1957) is an Indian exponent of Kathak, an Indian Classical Dance form. She is the senior most disciple of Pt. Durga Lal, the Kathak Maestro from Jaipur Gharana. She is a Kathak soloist, a choreographer and a teacher. Sh ...
2014 *
Jitendra Maharaj Jitendra Maharaj was an Indian dancer and a Kathak maestro. He was a recipient of Sangeet Natak Academy Award given by the government of India. Jitendra Maharaj is from Varanasi Varanasi (; ; also Banaras or Benares (; ), and Kashi.) is a ...
2016 *
Puru Dadheech Puru Dadheech (Purushottam Dadheech, 17 July 1939) is a Kathak dancer. He is a choreographer and educator of Indian classical dance, and is known for his pioneering work in the field of Kathak. At the oldest Kathak department which was formed i ...
2018


Padma awardees

*
Shambhu Maharaj Pandit Shambhu Maharaj (1910 – 4 November 1970) was a Guru of the Lucknow ''Gharana'' (school) of the Indian classical dance form, Kathak. Early life and training Shambhu Maharaj was born in Lucknow as Shambhunath Mishra. He was the younges ...
* Uma Sharma *
Birju Maharaj Pandit Birju Maharaj (born Brijmohan Nath Mishra; 4 February 1938 – 16 January 2022) was an Indian dancer, composer, singer, child molester and exponent of the Lucknow "Kalka-Bindadin" Gharana of Kathak dance in India. He was a descendant o ...
*
Damayanti Joshi Damayanti Joshi (5 September 1928 – 19 September 2004) was a noted renowned exponent of the Kathak dance form.She believed Kathak is the art of storytelling. She began in the 1930s dancing in Madame Menaka's troupe, which travelled to many pa ...
*
Sitara Devi Sitara Devi (named Dhanlakshm; 8 November 1920 – 25 November 2014) was an Indian dancer of the classical Kathak style of dancing, a singer, and an actress. She was the recipient of several awards and accolades, and performed at several pres ...
* Gopi Krishna * Rohini Bhate * Shovana Narayan *
Kumudini Lakhia Kumudini Lakhia (born 17 May 1930) is an Indian Kathak dancer and choreographer based in Ahmedabad, Gujarat, where she founded Kadamb School of Dance and Music, an institute of Indian dance and music in 1967. A pioneer in contemporary Kathak d ...
*
Roshan Kumari Roshan Kumari Fakir Mohammad is an Indian classical dancer, actor and choreographer, considered by many as one of the foremost exponents of the Indian classical dance form of Kathak. She follows the Jaipur Gharana and is the founder of ''Nritya ...
*
Puru Dadheech Puru Dadheech (Purushottam Dadheech, 17 July 1939) is a Kathak dancer. He is a choreographer and educator of Indian classical dance, and is known for his pioneering work in the field of Kathak. At the oldest Kathak department which was formed i ...
*
Kamalini Asthana and Nalini Asthana Kamalini Asthana and Nalini Asthana are a sister duo from Agra in Uttar Pradesh known for their great performances of the Benaras Gharana style of Kathak. They are also known for their contributions to the popularisation of the Benaras Gharana styl ...


Gharana founders

* Ishwari Prasad - Founder:Lucknow Gharana *
Raja Chakradhar Singh Raja Chakradhar Singh (19 August 1905 −7 October 1947) was the Raja of Raigarh and Chief of Bargarh ruled by Gond dynasty. He was the ruler of Princely state of Raigarh from 1924 till his death in 1947. He was son of Raja Bhup Deo Singh, ...
- Founder: Raigarh Gharana


Lucknow gharana

The following is a list of the
Guru Guru ( sa, गुरु, IAST: ''guru;'' Pali'': garu'') is a Sanskrit term for a "mentor, guide, expert, or master" of certain knowledge or field. In pan-Indian traditions, a guru is more than a teacher: traditionally, the guru is a reverential ...
s of the ''Lucknow Gharana'', beginning with the disciples of Ishwari Prasad: *
Wajid Ali Shah Mirza Wajid Ali Shah ( ur, ) (30 July 1822 – 1 September 1887) was the eleventh and last King of Awadh, holding the position for 9 years, from 13 February 1847 to 11 February 1856. Wajid Ali Shah's first wife was Alam Ara who was better k ...
(1822 – 1887,
Nawab of Oudh The Nawab of Awadh or the Nawab of Oudh was the title of the rulers who governed the state of Awadh (anglicised as Oudh) in north India during the 18th and 19th centuries. The Nawabs of Awadh belonged to a dynasty of Persian origin from Nishap ...
and patron of the arts) *
Lachhu Maharaj Pandit Bajinath Prasad also known as Pandit Lachhu Maharaj (1901–1978) was an Indian classical dancer and choreographer of Kathak dance. He came from a family of illustrious Kathak exponents in Lucknow, and also worked as film choreographer, ...
*
Shambhu Maharaj Pandit Shambhu Maharaj (1910 – 4 November 1970) was a Guru of the Lucknow ''Gharana'' (school) of the Indian classical dance form, Kathak. Early life and training Shambhu Maharaj was born in Lucknow as Shambhunath Mishra. He was the younges ...
*
Maya Rao Maya Rao (2 May 1928 – 1 September 2014) was an Indian classical dancer, choreographer and educator, in Kathak dance. She is known for her pioneering work in Kathak choreography, especially in dance ballets, and is credited for bringing Kath ...
*
Damayanti Joshi Damayanti Joshi (5 September 1928 – 19 September 2004) was a noted renowned exponent of the Kathak dance form.She believed Kathak is the art of storytelling. She began in the 1930s dancing in Madame Menaka's troupe, which travelled to many pa ...
*
Birju Maharaj Pandit Birju Maharaj (born Brijmohan Nath Mishra; 4 February 1938 – 16 January 2022) was an Indian dancer, composer, singer, child molester and exponent of the Lucknow "Kalka-Bindadin" Gharana of Kathak dance in India. He was a descendant o ...
* Guru Bandana Sen * Sushmita Banerjee * Maharaj Ghulam Hussain Kathak *
Saswati Sen Saswati Sen is an Indian dancer and choreographer, and an exponent of Kathak, an Indian classical dance form. She was a senior disciple of Pandit Birju Maharaj, and still teaches and performs at his Kalashram Institute in the Jor Bagh distric ...
*
Vibha Dadheech Vibha Dadheech is an Indian classical dancer in the Kathak dance form. She began learning Kathak from Raigarh Court dancer Pt. Firtu Maharaj, and later in Guru Shishya Parampara from Pt. Shambhu Maharaj as a ganda bandh shagird, living and lea ...
*
Munna Shukla Munna Shukla (7 December 1943- 11 January 2022) was a Kathak guru and choreographer of Lucknow Gharana based in New Delhi, India. Born to a family who has been involved in dance for generations, Munna Shukla specialized in Kathak, a classical dan ...
* Nandkishore Kapote *
Shila Mehta Shila Mehta is an Indian Classical dance artist, choreographer, teacher, and composer. Her background is firmly rooted in the North Indian form of Kathak, which she has taken to audiences across the globe including touring India, North America, ...
*
Prerana Deshpande Prerana Deshpande is a recognized Indian exponent of Kathak dance. She started to study Kathak under Sharadini Gole when she was seven years old. Her first performance was when she was fifteen years old. Then she studied Kathak under Guru-Sh ...
*
Gauri Jog Gauri Jog is a Kathak dancer, Choreographer and research scholar from Chicago. She has been practicing Kathak dance and considered as an exponent of Lucknow and Jaipur Gharana. Her creations include Krishna Leela, Shakuntala, Jhansi Ki Rani, K ...
* Sushmita Banerjee *
Deepa Devasena Deepa Devasena (born Chidambaram, Tamil Nadu, India) is a popular Kathak guru of the Lucknow_gharana_(tabla), Lucknow Gharana style in the Greater Milwaukee Area, practicing since 2003. She is the artistic director of the "Arabhi School of India ...
* Manjari Chaturvedi *
Pali Chandra Pali Chandra, (Born 19 November 1967) is a Kathak Exponent, Choreographer, Digital Dance Educator, Mentor and Artistic Director. Intensively trained in the field of Kathak, she now propagates Dance Education through various channels. She has ...
* Priti Singh •
Mahua Shankar Mahua Acharya Mahua or Mahuaa may refer to: Botany * ''Madhuca longifolia'' or mahua, a tree in the family Sapotaceae * ''Mahua'' (moss), a genus of mosses in family Hypnaceae Culture and entertainment * Mahua (snack), a Chinese fried dough twi ...


Jaipur gharana

*
Sunder Prasad Pandit Sunder Prasad (died 29 May 1970 ) was a guru (teacher) of - Jaipur Gharana of the Indian classical dance form, Kathak. He received his training from his father Pandit Chunnilal of Jaipur Gharana. He also trained under Bindadin Maharaj of ...
(Sundar Chunnilal Prasad) *
Puru Dadheech Puru Dadheech (Purushottam Dadheech, 17 July 1939) is a Kathak dancer. He is a choreographer and educator of Indian classical dance, and is known for his pioneering work in the field of Kathak. At the oldest Kathak department which was formed i ...
* Mangala Bhatt


Benaras gharana

The following is a list of the
guru Guru ( sa, गुरु, IAST: ''guru;'' Pali'': garu'') is a Sanskrit term for a "mentor, guide, expert, or master" of certain knowledge or field. In pan-Indian traditions, a guru is more than a teacher: traditionally, the guru is a reverential ...
s of the ''Benaras Gharana'', beginning with the disciples of Janaki Prasad: *
Sitara Devi Sitara Devi (named Dhanlakshm; 8 November 1920 – 25 November 2014) was an Indian dancer of the classical Kathak style of dancing, a singer, and an actress. She was the recipient of several awards and accolades, and performed at several pres ...
, daughter of Sukhdev *
Kamalini Asthana and Nalini Asthana Kamalini Asthana and Nalini Asthana are a sister duo from Agra in Uttar Pradesh known for their great performances of the Benaras Gharana style of Kathak. They are also known for their contributions to the popularisation of the Benaras Gharana styl ...


Gurus (deceased)

*
Damayanti Joshi Damayanti Joshi (5 September 1928 – 19 September 2004) was a noted renowned exponent of the Kathak dance form.She believed Kathak is the art of storytelling. She began in the 1930s dancing in Madame Menaka's troupe, which travelled to many pa ...
* Rohini Bhate *
Chitresh Das Chitresh Das (Devanagari: ) (9 November 1944 – 4 January 2015) was a classical dancer of the North Indian style of Kathak. Born in Calcutta, Das was a performer, choreographer, composer and educator. He was instrumental in bringing Kathak to ...
* Rani Karnaa *
Maya Rao Maya Rao (2 May 1928 – 1 September 2014) was an Indian classical dancer, choreographer and educator, in Kathak dance. She is known for her pioneering work in Kathak choreography, especially in dance ballets, and is credited for bringing Kath ...
*
Birju Maharaj Pandit Birju Maharaj (born Brijmohan Nath Mishra; 4 February 1938 – 16 January 2022) was an Indian dancer, composer, singer, child molester and exponent of the Lucknow "Kalka-Bindadin" Gharana of Kathak dance in India. He was a descendant o ...


Current elder/senior gurus

* Guru Bandana Sen *
Roshan Kumari Roshan Kumari Fakir Mohammad is an Indian classical dancer, actor and choreographer, considered by many as one of the foremost exponents of the Indian classical dance form of Kathak. She follows the Jaipur Gharana and is the founder of ''Nritya ...
*
Puru Dadheech Puru Dadheech (Purushottam Dadheech, 17 July 1939) is a Kathak dancer. He is a choreographer and educator of Indian classical dance, and is known for his pioneering work in the field of Kathak. At the oldest Kathak department which was formed i ...
*
Nahid Siddiqui Nahid Siddiqui (born 1956) is an exponent of Kathak dance. She has been a disciple of two great teachers: Maharaj Kathak (Pakistan) and Birju Maharaj (India). She has against all odds and challenges, spent decades of her life breathing hope, v ...
*
Kumudini Lakhia Kumudini Lakhia (born 17 May 1930) is an Indian Kathak dancer and choreographer based in Ahmedabad, Gujarat, where she founded Kadamb School of Dance and Music, an institute of Indian dance and music in 1967. A pioneer in contemporary Kathak d ...
*
Maya Rao Maya Rao (2 May 1928 – 1 September 2014) was an Indian classical dancer, choreographer and educator, in Kathak dance. She is known for her pioneering work in Kathak choreography, especially in dance ballets, and is credited for bringing Kath ...
(1928-2014) * Dr. Suchitra Harmalkar *
Nirupama Rajendra Nirupama Rajendra is a notable Indian classical dancer in the Bharatanatyam, Bharathnatyam and Kathak dance forms. She is based in Bangalore, Bangalore, Karnataka. Nirupama and her husband Rajendra (ನಿರುಪಮ ಮತ್ತು ರಾಜ ...
*
Nandini Singh Nandini Singh (born 7 August 1980) is an Indian television and film actress, who has worked in both Hindi movies and Hindi serials. Nandini began her career as a child artist in the movie ''Jumbish'' in 1986 at the age of six, she worked in ' ...
* Geetanjali Lal * Shama Bhate *
Prerana Shrimali Prerana Shrimali is a senior dancer of Jaipur Gharana of Kathak Kathak ( hi, कथक; ur, کتھک) is one of the eight major forms of Indian classical dance. It is the classical dance from of Uttar Pradesh. The origin of Kathak is tradi ...
* Nandkishore Kapote *
Saswati Sen Saswati Sen is an Indian dancer and choreographer, and an exponent of Kathak, an Indian classical dance form. She was a senior disciple of Pandit Birju Maharaj, and still teaches and performs at his Kalashram Institute in the Jor Bagh distric ...
* Rajendra Gangani * Shovana Narayan *
Pali Chandra Pali Chandra, (Born 19 November 1967) is a Kathak Exponent, Choreographer, Digital Dance Educator, Mentor and Artistic Director. Intensively trained in the field of Kathak, she now propagates Dance Education through various channels. She has ...
*Priti Singh


Younger artists

* Priti Singh * Suchandra Banerjee * Jaya Sharma *
Prerana Deshpande Prerana Deshpande is a recognized Indian exponent of Kathak dance. She started to study Kathak under Sharadini Gole when she was seven years old. Her first performance was when she was fifteen years old. Then she studied Kathak under Guru-Sh ...
* Manoj Maharaj Kathak * Maryada Kulshreastha (Maya) * Manisha Gulyani *
Neha Pendse Nehha Pendse Bayas (born 29 November 1984) is an Indian film and television actress. She was born and brought up in Mumbai. Pendse was introduced on India-based satellite television channel Zee Marathi's ''Bhagyalakshami''. She has acted in sev ...
* Shashwati Harmalkar *
Akram Khan (dancer) Akram Hossain Khan, MBE ( bn, আকরাম হুসেইন খান) (born 29 July 1974) is an English dancer and choreographer of Bangladeshi descent. His background is rooted in his classical kathak training and contemporary dance. Car ...
*
Chitresh Das Chitresh Das (Devanagari: ) (9 November 1944 – 4 January 2015) was a classical dancer of the North Indian style of Kathak. Born in Calcutta, Das was a performer, choreographer, composer and educator. He was instrumental in bringing Kathak to ...
*
Satya Narayana Charka Satya Narayana Charka is a Kathak dancer, teacher, and choreographer. He was taught by Pundit R.K. Shukla, Pundit Shambhu Maharaj, Shrimati Maya Rao and Birju Maharaj. Among his many awards is the first prize in the All-India Dance Competition ...
* Cynthia Ling Lee


References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Kathak Exponents, List Of India dance-related lists Lists of dancers