Erika Nandi

🪔 About

Erika Nandi is a German-born Indian classical dancer and teacher who has dedicated her life to promoting Indian dance forms. Originally from Germany, she was drawn to the cultures of Asia from childhood and found her destiny in India in 1962 after meeting her future husband, Simanta Kumar Nandi. Her initial powerful attraction to Indian classical dance was sparked by the Bharatanatyam performances of Sonal Mansingh and Mrinalini Sarabhai. Nandi's journey into Indian dance began with learning Assamese Bihu, a folk dance, in January 1970. She quickly achieved success, performing at the Assam Sahitya Sabha in 1972 and receiving regular invitations to dance across Assam for the next decade. Her formal classical training commenced in 1976 when she began learning Kathak in Kolkata under the tutelage of the late Pandit Ramgopal Misra and his wife Sushmita Misra at the Jailal Academy. In 1978, she started her Bharatanatyam training under Guru Smti Thankamani Kutty of Kalamandalam Kolkata. She also pursued Sattriya dance under Sree Bijoy Krishna Goswami and refined her Bihu technique with guidance from the late Sri Bhagawati and Sree Mridul Chetia Phookon. To further her artistic development, Nandi participated in workshops led by renowned Kathak maestros Pandit Birju Maharaj and Mamata Maharaj. In 1981, Erika Nandi achieved significant recognition by winning the Silver Medal at the All India Competition organized by the Allahabad Prayag Samiti. She has since established herself as a dedicated teacher, founding a dance institute in Dhubri, Assam, where she imparts knowledge of various Indian dance forms, including Kathak and Bharatanatyam, to approximately 70 students annually. Nandi has received numerous awards from both Indian and German organizations for her contributions to dance. She is celebrated for her elegance and as an inspiring dancer who gracefully embraced Indian heritage and culture. Awards & Honours: Silver Medal at the All India Competition (1981).