Moumala Nayak

An excellent blend of sensuous movements and graceful footwork with absolute control on laya describes the performance of Moumala, an accomplished artiste hailing from the Lucknow Gharana of Kathak.

A disciple of Pt. Birju Maharaj, Moumala has widely performed in India & abroad since last fifteen years: recent among these have been in Austria, Poland, Lieuthania, Slovakia, Canada, USA, Italy, Burma and Malaysia.

Numerous awards have come way, including the ‘Sangeet Kala Ratna’ by Maatri Udbodhan Ashram, Dr. Ambedkar Kalashri Award 1999 by Delhi Chief minister Smt. Shiela Dixit and the ‘National Scholarship’ by Ministry of H.R.D., Govt. of India. Moumala teaches at the Gandharva Mahavidyalaya, New Delhi.

Monisa Nayak

Monisa, a disciple of Pandit Rajendra Gangani, is an accomplished Kathak performer of the Jaipur Gharana who has dedicated herself to perfecting her art form. Her excellent command of rhythm, as well as her natural flair for profound ex-pression, mark her performances and are critically acclaimed by connoisseurs.

An A Grade Kathak Artiste of Delhi Doordarshan,she has performed widely in major festivals. Some of these are the Malhaar Festival of ICCR; Nirat (Gandharva Mahavidyalaya, New Delhi's 70 year celebrations); Taj Mahotsav, Agra; Allegro Vivo, Austria; 60 Years of India's Independence, New York, Tropentheatre, Holland; and the Geneva Festival.

Her choreographic works include 'Spectrum' and 'Raga-chitra' (depicting the moods of various ragas) for Impresario India.

She has been awarded the Sanatana Nritya Puraskar and Sanskriti Kalakriti Fellowship for research in Kathak choreography.

As part of her endeavour to uphold and promote the values of aesthetic classicism, Monisa teaches at the Gandharva Mahavidyalaya, New Delhi.