Madhu Nataraj

🪔 About

Madhu Nataraj, born on February 24, 1971, in Bangalore, India, is a celebrated Indian classical and contemporary dancer, choreographer, and arts entrepreneur. She is the daughter of pioneering Kathak guru Dr. Maya Rao and cultural impresario M.S. Natarajan. Initially, Nataraj pursued a B.Com degree from Mount Carmel College, Bangalore, and a journalism course at Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, having felt a temporary saturation with dance in her teenage years. However, a pivotal experience at the American Dance Festival in 1990 re-ignited her passion for movement. She subsequently received rigorous training in Kathak under her mother, Maya Rao, and aunt Chitra Venugopal, with a particular emphasis on 'Bhaav' (expressional motif) and 'Kathavaachak' (narrative content). Nataraj further honed her skills in contemporary dance at the Jose Limon Centre in New York, studying under Karen Potter and Sara Pearson, and also trained in the USA, UK, and Poland. She has also trained in folk and martial dances of India and practiced Yoga using the B.K.S. Iyengar technique. In 1995, Madhu Nataraj founded STEM (Space. Time. Energy. Movement) Dance Kampni, which became Karnataka's first Indian contemporary dance company and serves as the performing wing of the Natya Institute of Kathak and Choreography. She also holds the position of Director at the Natya Institute of Kathak and Choreography, an esteemed institution co-founded by her mother, Dr. Maya Rao, and Kamala Devi Chattopadhyay in 1964. Under her artistic direction, STEM Dance Kampni has toured extensively, performing in over 36 countries and creating more than 60 productions and 100 unique short sequences. Nataraj is recognized for her innovative approach, seamlessly blending traditional Indian dance forms with contemporary expressions, and has choreographed over 300 works. Awards & Honours: Ustad Bismillah Khan Yuva Puraskar (2010), 50 Young Achievers of India Today, Mohan Khokar Award (2011), FICCI Women's Achievers Award, Ananta Aspen Global Leadership Fellow.