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There are many famous kathak dancers in India who have shaped and preserved this classical dance form for centuries. From legends like Pandit Birju Maharaj and Sitara Devi to contemporary performers, these artists act as dancers, composers, and choreographers. Moreover, they have made appearances in many Bollywood movies. Learning about these famous Kathak dancers can help students enhance their basic general knowledge. To help them out, here is a comprehensive blog of the famous Kathak dancers in India.
Table of Contents
List of Top Kathak Dancers in India
The famous Kathak dancers in India have continued the art and traditions of this dance form while bringing new innovations. Here is a list of the top kathak dancers in India along with their major honours.
| Famous Kathak Dancers in India | Description | Major awards and honours |
| Birju Maharaj | Indian dancer and composer | Padma Vibhushan (1986) Kalidas Samman (1987) Sangeet Natak Akademii Award (1964) |
| Sitara Devi | Indian dancer | Sangeet Natak Akademi Award for Dance- Kathak (1969) |
| Shovana Narayan | Indian dancer | Sangeet Natak Akademi Award for Dance- Kathak (1955) |
| Maya Rao | Indian dancer and choreographer | Sangeet Natak Akademi Award for Dance- Creative Dance/Choreography (1989) |
| Kumudini Lakhia | Indian dancer and choreographer | Padma Shri (2010) Sangeet Natak Akademi Award for Dance – Kathak (1982) |
| Damayanti Joshi | Indian dancer | Padma Shri (1970) Sangeet Natak Akademi Award for Dance – Kathak (1968) |
| Roshan Kumari | Indian dancer | Padma Shri (1975) Sangeet Natak Akademi Award for Dance – Kathak (1968) |
| Aditi Mangaldas | Indian dancer and choreographer | Sangeet Natak Akademi Award for Dance – Kathak (2000) |
| Sunayana Hazarilal | Indian dancer | Sangeet Natak Akademi Award for Dance – Kathak (2003) |
| Prerana Shrimali | Indian dancer | Sangeet Natak Akademi Award for Dance – Kathak (2009) |
| Shambhu Maharaj | Indian dancer | Sangeet Natak Akademi Award for Dance- Kathak (1955) |
| Gopi Krishna | Indian Kathak dancer, actor and choreographer | Padma Shri |
| Geetanjali Lal | Indian Kathak dancer and choreographer | Sangeet Natak Akademi Award for Dance – Kathak (2008) |
| Mallika Sarabhai | Indian dancer and actress | Gaurav Puraskar of the Government of Gujarat (1992) Best Actress Award for Gujarati films (1975) |
| Rajendra Gangani | Indian Kathak dancer | Sangeet Natak Akademi Award for Dance – Kathak (2002) |
| Rani Karnaa | Indian classical dancer | Padma Shri (2014) Sangeet Natak Akademi Award for Dance – Kathak (1996) |
Who are the 5 Famous Kathak Dancers?
This section of the blog highlights 5 famous Kathak dancers of India who have impacted this dance form significantly. From extraordinary dance performances to exceptional storytelling through expressions, these people have managed to do it all.
1. Birju Maharaj
Pandit Birju Maharaj, also known as Brijmohan Nath Mishra Maharaj, was a legendary Indian Kathak dancer. Born in a kathak dancing family, he began performing at a young age. Eventually, he became a dance teacher at the age of 13 and won the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award by the age of 28. Apart from describing episodes about the Hindu goddess Radha and lord Krishna, he used Kathak to express social issues and non-mythological tales.
| Parameter | Description |
| Full name | Brijmohan Nath Mishra Maharaj |
| Born | February 4, 1938 |
| Died | January 16, 2022 |
2. Sitara Devi
Sitara Devi was an actress, known for her legendary performances in Bollywood superhits such as Devdas and Watan. She was born into the house of traditional performing artists who belonged to the community of Kaths. Born as Dhanalaxmi, she started performing as a solo dancer at the age of 10 years and showed a keen interest in Kathak. Moreover, Rabindranath Tagore called her the “Queen of Kathak”.
| Parameter | Description |
| Born | November 8, 1920 |
| Died | November 25, 2014 |
3. Shambhu Maharaj
Shambhu Maharaj was a renowned Indian Kathak dancer. He belonged to the Lucknow Gharana. Moreover, he was the youngest of three sons of Kalka Prasad Maharaj, a tabla player. He made his debut in 1926 at the All India Music Conference in Lucknow. Shambhu Maharaj was popular for his graceful movements and captivating expressions. Shambhu Maharaj was a gifted musician whose storytelling skills through Kathak were unparalleled.
4. Maya Rao
Maya Rao was a celebrated Indian Kathak dancer and choreographer. Her learning under the guidance of Shambhu Maharaj led to the rare sight of a guru (teacher) performing with the shisya (disciple). She is often accredited as the dancer who brought north’s Kathak style into South India. Apart from this, Maya Rao was primarily known for her mastery over Abhinaya, the art of mastering expressions while performing.
| Particulars | Details |
| Born on | 2 May 1928 |
| Born at | Bangalore |
5. Dayamanti Joshi
The next person on this list of famous Kathak dancers in India is Dayamanti Joshi. Born in 1932 in Mumbai, Dayamanti Joshi began her career at a young age. Eventually, people started recognising her for solo performances and emotive storytelling. Moreover, she made appearances in several Bollywood movies such as Aakrant (1973) and Lagna Pahave Karun (1940).
| Particulars | Details |
| Born in | 1932 |
| Born at | Mumbai |
FAQs
Birju Maharaj is a popular name synonymous with Kathak. He is known for his mastery of expressive storytelling. His significant contributions to the world of Kathak gave him the prestigious Padma Vibhushan.
Pandit Birju Maharaj is a popular Kathak in India. He is also known as a musician, composer, and singer. He started his career at the age of 13 and made numerous contributions, earning numerous accolades, including the Padma Vibhushan.
Born on November 8, 1920, Sitara Devi, a world-famous Kathak dancer, singer, and actress, is often considered the queen of Kathak. Her original anime was Dhanalaxmi. She started solo performances at a very young age.
The Hindu god Krishna is often considered the god of Kathak dance. Many performers use their expressions and storytelling to depict the stories of lord Krishna and episodes from Indian epics such as Bhagavata Purana.
Many people consider the Kuchipudi form of dance as the most difficult Indian classical dance. It developed in the southern Indian state of Andhra Pradesh. The common rituals of this dance form include lighting incense sticks and praying.
Hope you enjoyed reading about the famous Kathak dancers in India. If you want to know more about other Famous Personalities then visit our General Knowledge page!