7 Timeless Female Kathak Dancers & their Iconic Legacies

By: WE staff

Kamalini Asthana & Nalini Asthana  

Agra-based sisters Nalini Asthana and Kamalini Asthana are celebrated artists and exponents of the Benaras Gharana School of Kathak. Their exposure to Kathak was abrupt in the guise of a chance meeting with Guru Jitendra Maharaj of the Benaras Gharana. They were impressed by him and started learning Kathak in 1973. They had their arangetram (debut concert) in Kochi, Kerala, during their tour with Guru.

They founded the Sangeetka Institute of Performing Arts in Delhi in 1975 to impart Kathak and classical music training. They have traveled all over the world, going to places like Torremolinos and Madrid (Spain), Dublin (Ireland), and ISKCON, London. They were featured on the BBC's Eastern Eye, presented by Karan Thapar. They also produced a film, Voyage of Kathak, for the Inner London Education Authority (ILEA) and gave lecture demonstrations in some London schools, sharing the richness of Kathak with global citizens as well.

In 2022, the Government of India awarded Kamalini and Nalini the Padma Shri. They were awarded this great honor for their commendable efforts towards the practice of art. The award identifies them as celebrated Kathak dancing duo of Agra who has a passion for teaching and spreading the art form to the world.