Nandini, who imbibed the finest traits of the Kathak dance from her dance gurus, always endeavored to promote the art. She has been an exponent of Kathak all her life and several of her students are carrying forward her legacy.

Nandini Singh is a Kathak Dancer and Guru based in New Delhi.

Nandini was born and raised in Delhi. She completed her formal education and training in Kathak in Delhi itself.

Recalling her childhood, Nandini says that she had been interested in dancing from the beginning. She would keep doing dance steps every time even when she just walked around. She says that she doesn’t exactly remember when she started learning Kathak. However, she has a photo of herself from when she was five years old in which she could be seen doing the Kathak dance. She says her mother, who was a singer herself,  played a big role in making her learn to dance.

Nandini kept performing Kathak and by the time she turned twenty, she was an established Kathak dancer. She says, in 1971,  late PM Indira Gandhi invited her to perform as a young artist on India’s first flight to the UK on a Boeing 747. However, her dancing career came to a halt after her wedding. For fifteen years, she just shouldered her family responsibilities. And when her husband was transferred to Delhi, she took to performing Kathak again.  Today, it’s been sixty-five years of her performing Kathak, Nandini says.

Talking about challenges she faced in her life, Nandini says that tough times in life make you stronger, no matter what. She says, when she was just twelve, she lost her mother which came as a challenge to her. Later, when she thought of resuming her dance career after a long hiatus, things seemed insurmountable. But, she was determined and worked really hard. She would wake up at odd hours at night to practice Kathak. She would run miles to regain her lost stamina. And within just six months, she was all set to perform on the stage once again, she says.

Nandini says that she performed Kathak for ten years before becoming an instructor of it. She first taught at Anand Ashram in Delhi. And then she started teaching as a Kathak guru at Shree Ram Bhartiya Kala Kendra in Delhi itself and taught there for about twelve years. In 1995, she started her own Kathak school named, “ Vasuki Natyashala” in the western part of Delhi.

Nandini says that she always wanted to promote Kathak and work for its spread and popularity. Making money out of teaching Kathak was never her motive. She would give scholarships to the students at her Kathak school who wouldn’t be able to bear the fees.

Nandini acknowledges that her husband, who was in the air force, has always been there by her side in all her life endeavors.  Besides, she says that Pt. Durgalal Ji, a Kathak dancer and Kathak instructor, and her Kathak gurus, all motivated her immensely and because of their efforts only she was able to reach where she is today.

Talking about her achievements, Nandini says that she has received numerous awards as a Kathak dancer. However, her biggest achievement is teaching Kathak to the granddaughters of Morari Bapu - a renowned Indian preacher, who himself chose her to be their instructor.

To aspiring Kathak dancers and Kathak instructors, Nandini advises them to always remain students and lifelong learners. She thinks that remaining a student forever enables one to keep learning new things lifelong.

Nandini thinks that everyone is an artist in themself and is capable of doing different things. And accepting this is the way to live a contented life.