Madhu Nataraj

Indian dancer (b. 1971)

Madhu Nataraj

Born|  (1971-02-24) 24 February 1971 (age 52)

Bangalore

Occupation(s)| Dancer, choreographer, arts entrepreneur
Years active| 1991 to present
Career
Current group| Natya institute of Kathak & Choreography Stem Dance Kampani
Dances| Kathak Indian Contemporary dance
Website| www.stemdancekampni.in

Madhu Nataraj (born 24 February 1971) is an Indian classical, contemporary dancer and choreographer who lives in Bangalore.[1][2][3] She is the director of the Natya Institute of Kathak and Choreography and founded its performing wing STEM (Space.Time.Energy.Movement) Dance Kampni.

## Early life[edit]

Nataraj was born on 21 February 1971 in Bangalore to M.S.Natarajan and Maya Rao, an Indian classical dancer.[3][2][4]

## Education[edit]

Nataraj did her B.Com from Mount Carmel College, Bangalore. She learnt dance at Natya Institute of Kathak and Choreography in Bangalore and also enrolled for a course in journalism at the Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan.[5]

Nataraj received her dance training in Kathak under her mother Maya Rao, aunt Chitra Venugopal and Munna Shukla.[3][1]

Nataraj trained in contemporary dance from Karen Potter at the Jose Limon Centre, New York. She learnt under Karen Potter and Sara Pearson.[3][5]

She has trained in folk and martial dances of India and studied Yoga using the B.K.S Iyengar technique.[1]

As of 2018, she was pursuing a master's degree in Anthropology from Indira Gandhi Open University.[5]

## Career[edit]

In 1995, Nataraj set up the STEM (Space.Time.Energy. Movement) Dance Kampni which is the performing wing of Natya Institute of Kathak and Choreography.[5][6] The dance company has performed globally, having traveled to 37 countries including the United States of America, Australia, New Zealand, Europe, UAE and Southeast Asia.[7][8] It has made approximately 60 productions and more than 100 unique short sequences.[9] She is also the director of the Natya Institute of Kathak and Choreography.[10]

Nataraj has performed in various dance festivals such as the Khajuraho Festival, Khajuraho; Purana Quila Festival, Delhi; Nritya Kriti organized by Sangeet Natak Akademi, Ahmedabad; Festival of Babylon; Kathak Mahotsav, Delhi, Lucknow and Canada and Kalanidhi International Dance Festival, Toronto.[3]

She was a dance curator for the Under The Raintree women's cultural festival in 2017 and 2019.[11][12][13]

## Awards and achievements[edit]

In 2010, Nataraj was awarded the Ustad Bismillah Khan Yuva Puraskar of Sangeet Natak Akademi for her talent in the field of creative and experimental dance.[3] She won the 50 young achievers of India today award. She also received the Mohan Khokar Award in 2011.[3] She is a fellow of Ananta Aspen Centre's Kamalnayan Bajaj Fellowship.[14][15]

## Other interests[edit]

Nataraj enjoys reading and she writes on various topics ranging from dance to women's issues.[16] She is also interested in textiles and travel.[17]

## References[edit]

1. ^ a b c Connections, Saigan. "Articles - KATHAK AS A SPRINGBOARD FOR CHOREOGRAPHY by Madhu Natraj". www.narthaki.com. Retrieved 27 November 2018.
2. ^ a b "Kathak with a big twist". Deccan Chronicle. 5 April 2016. Retrieved 27 November 2018.
3. ^ a b c d e f g "CUR_TITLE". sangeetnatak.gov.in. Retrieved 27 November 2018.
4. ^ "Madhu Nataraj Kiran on her mother the iconic Maya Rao". mumsandstories.com. Retrieved 27 November 2018.
5. ^ a b c d Kambanna, Manasa (1 July 2018). "Walking many roads". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 27 November 2018.
6. ^ "Welcome to Stem Dance Kampni !". www.stemdancekampni.in. Archived from the original on 18 October 2018. Retrieved 27 November 2018.
7. ^ Her Story: Madhu Nataraj | YourStory, retrieved 28 March 2021
8. ^ Husaini, Zara (13 October 2015). "Kathak Dancer Madhu Nataraj Builds Upon her Mother's Legacy Through a Bangalore-Based Dance Troupe". India News, Breaking News | India.com. Retrieved 28 March 2021.
9. ^ "Madhu Nataraj comes up with a unique fundraiser this weekend - Times of India". The Times of India. Retrieved 28 March 2021.
10. ^ "Natya_Institute_of_Kathak_and_Choreography". natyamaya.in. Retrieved 28 March 2021.
11. ^ "Under The Raintree Women's Cultural Festival 2019". Bangalore International Centre. Retrieved 28 March 2021.
12. ^ "Advisors and Collaborators". undertheraintree. Retrieved 28 March 2021.
13. ^ Dance curator Madhu Nataraj, Under The Raintree Festival 2017, retrieved 28 March 2021
14. ^ "Kampni – STEM Dance Kampni". Retrieved 28 March 2021.
15. ^ "Kamalnayan Bajaj Fellowship". anantaaspencentre.in. Retrieved 28 March 2021.
16. ^ Shekhar, Divya (2018). "How poetry of 12th century women mystics impacted Madhu Natraj". The Economic Times. Retrieved 27 November 2018.
17. ^ "Dancer's diary". The New Indian Express. Retrieved 28 March 2021.

## External links[edit]

* Official Website of STEM Dance Kampni
* Official Website of Natya Institute of Kathak and Choreography
* Nataraj's TEDx talk on Illusion and Success as Creative Choicesj
* Nataraj's TEDx talk on Choreographing Life