Among the few male Bharatanatyam dancers, Charles comes from a typical lower middle-class family. Despite numerous challenges, he passionately pursues dance. Renowned for his kindness and integrity, he stands out in the dancing community.

Charles Ma is a skilled Bharatanatyam dancer and teacher, having a dance career spanning more than 22 years, coupled with nearly two decades of teaching experience. He is also Director of the Adishakti School of Bharatanatyam in Bangalore and specialises in teaching soloists.

Ethnically, Charles describes himself as half Chinese and half Nepalese, with some north-eastern roots. Raised in the traditional Tamil and Kannada-speaking environment of South India, he ardently identifies with his South Indian roots and can fluently converse in both Kannada and Tamil.

Looking back on his childhood, Charles remembers coming from a lower-middle-class family where life's challenges were a constant companion. He would wake up in the morning, listening to the voices of temple bells and the call of the azaan. He would enjoy playing outdoors with his friends, undeterred by societal divides of class and caste. He remembers cycling his way back from school on the roads of Bangalore, enjoying the beautiful sunset and the birds chirping in the evenings.

His Indian childhood, though predominantly beautiful, was punctuated by a few traumatic experiences. Yet, as he matured, so did his challenges; he had several disagreements with his parents during his teenage years and assumed added responsibilities as he started college.

Sharing about his dance journey, Charles says that he started dancing at a young age and enjoys performing as well as teaching his dance form. However, it was not easy for him to pursue a career in classical dancing and to convince his parents about dance. As a male artist, he had to deal with society's stereotypical thinking and the strange look that people would see him with. Seeing his contemporaries, he would sometimes have second thoughts, but he sustained himself through all the challenges that came his way and moved forward.

Expressing contentment with his life's trajectory, Charles finds fulfilment in its simplicity and authenticity. He enjoys living a simple and organic life. His routine, which includes morning jogs, nourishing meals, and nurturing students, embodies a harmonious existence that enhances his artistry. This is what makes his dance more beautiful, natural, and balanced. He believes that art emanates from the soul and thrives in a pressure-free environment; he embraces stillness in his dance akin to poetry, cultivating an appreciation for beauty in all things. His proudest achievement lies in being perceived as a kindhearted, hardworking, and positive person.

Acknowledging past missteps, Charles admits having a troubled childhood that had a lasting impact on his future life. He became an introvert and made many wrong decisions, which brought a lot of struggles into his life. He had some really bad relationships in the past. He also remembers being in trouble due to some controversies that emanated after he gave an interview to a journalist. Nevertheless, he feels one should have the ability to grow from their mistakes. He says mistakes have taught him to become  a calmer person and a good human being.

When asked about his role models, Charles cites Sudha Murty as his ideal.

Beyond dance, he prioritises physical fitness and dedicates time to gym workouts and daily morning jogs. Dancing is like a passion to him, and he wants to give away all his learning through teaching students. He also has a great sense of ‘bhakti’ towards the divine being. His aspiration to pursue law and politics underscores his multifaceted interests and ambitions.

Guided by a mantra of honesty and altruism, Charles shuns materialism in favour of mental peace and purposeful living. He strives to support others and views community upliftment as a shared responsibility. He also suggests others be honest, hardworking, and focused on their goals. He urges them to be empathetic and sympathetic to others which will help them evolve to become a better human being.