7 Timeless Female Kathak Dancers & their Iconic Legacies

By: WE staff

Mamta Maharaj 

Mamta Maharaj is best known to be the greatest Kathak dancer, choreographer, and guru of the Lucknow gharana in India. She was born on 11th August 1969. As the daughter of the legendary Pandit Birju Maharaj, she has a powerful lineage being the eighth generation in the traditional dance form. 

Breaking against traditional expectations that once barred Kathak women in her family from performing at a professional level, Mamta followed her passion and became the first woman to be officially called a "ganda-bandh shagird" of her father. Her passion and skill have taken her on world tours with performances in the USA, Canada, Malaysia, and China. 

Kathak dancer Mamta Maharaj won the Yuva Mahotsava Award, which aims to recognize and encourage youth participation in art and culture. As a teacher at Kalashram, New Delhi, a school her father founded to promote the art of Kathak, she still inspires young dancers.