Kathak artist Nalini is the only Indian teacher teaching Kathak in Japan. Nalini spread the wave of Kathak in Japan at a time when only Bharatanatyam and Odissi were known in the country.

Nalini Toshniwal is a Kathak artist and Director at Ruchika Indian Dance Academy in Japan. Nalini has been in the classical dance field for the last forty years, where she also trains and teaches students the intricacies of Kathak dance.

Nalini belongs to Kashmir (Srinagar) and has been residing in Japan for the last thirty years. Sharing her experiences, Nalini says that when it came to Indian classical dance, only Odissi and Bharatanatyam were popular in Japan, and they were not aware of any other Indian dance form. As a Kathak artist herself, Nalini wanted this art form to get the same importance, respect, and awareness as other dance forms. She feels happy to have spread the cultural roots of India in Japan and other countries as well.

Recalling her childhood, Nalini says that she was born and brought up in Kashmir. Since her father moved to Ajmer, Nalini completed her schooling and college in Ajmer. She did her Master’s degree in Physics and was expected to make a career in a related field. However, Nalini’s interest lay in dance, which was not very popular in Kashmir.

Challenges came when Nalini’s father didn’t approve of her pursuing Kathak even as a hobby. However, at that time, her mother supported her, and it was only because of her mother that Nalini could pursue the dance. She learned Kathak under the tutelage of Pt. Manakchand Jodhpuri from the Jaipur Gharana. Nalini completed her ‘visharad’ in Kathak at Chandigarh University.

Nalini got married in a different culture in Rajasthan, which gave her exposure to the folk dances of the state. She feels happy to stay connected with Indian culture and dance and teach others the value of our classical dance forms. Nalini is also the coordinator for SPIC MACAY. She feels inspired by both the Jaipur and Lucknow Gharanas of Kathak. Nalini also learned under the supervision of Kathak maestro Pt. Birju Maharaj. Her project, ‘Bridge of Understanding," helped her learn about Japanese dance and music as well,  and make the country aware of the Indian culture of dance and music.

Speaking of her achievements, Nalini says that establishing Kathak dance in Japan has been her biggest achievement so far. She is also the President of the CID-UNESCO in Japan, an official umbrella organisation for all forms of dance in all countries of the world.

When asked about her role models, Nalini says she draws inspiration from yoga, an integral part of Indian culture. This propelled her to learn more about the subject and become a yoga teacher. Nalini also feels inspired by her gurus, Pt. Manakchand Jodhpuri and Pt. Birju Maharaj.

Nalini also runs a meditation centre called Samarpan Meditation Centre in Japan. She aims to spread the values of Indian culture, tradition, and civilization among the generations to come.