नंदिनी सिंह (Nandini Singh)

Thanks to the orthodoxy of various clans of Kathak, which occasionally turn into stagnant pools. Yet, when its waters are stirred by hard working new generation dancers, it yields beauty of a high order. One such enormously gifted artiste is Nandini who the critics say that she is the very epitome of feminine grace and allure. There is poetry in her dance. She has the potential for taking the viewer to a magic world of Kathak at its best

Parichay(Profile)

Born on 7th June 1952, Nimmi was initiated into the magic world of dance by her mother Late Janaki Devi, who herself was a singer of some repute. Nandini was fortunate enough to be sculpted by great Guru’s of kathak, Guru Hiralal, Guru Ganeshi Hiralal and Pt. Sunder Prasad. These kathak maestros helped her in getting the finest nuances in this dance form.

At Smt. Niana Devi’s Raag Rang conference, where Ustd. Bade Ghulam Ali Khan, Ustd. Hafiz Ali Khan, Badi Moti Bai performed, Nandini, with her debut performance delighted the audience. Her whirlwind brhamaris, sharp and neat tihaees, difficult chakradhars and other episodes prevalent commonly in Kathak form, were far beyond expectations from a teenager.

By fifteen she was already an accomplished dancer. In late 60’s itself, she had carved a niche for herself in kathak, blossoming into one of the finest new generation kathak dancers as Nandini. Further, in her pursuit for perfection, she got associated with Pt. Devi Lal, and Pt.Durga Lal, who brought along added enhancements in her dance. Over the years, Nandini featured in innumreable recitals in and outside India.

Then came a major gap for over two decades in Nandini’s dance life, at the top of her quest for perfection and glory, On 21st November 1971 she got married to Wg.Cdr L Gopinath Singh an Air Force Officer, where she flew off, to experience the sense and sesibilities of a marriage and of becoming a simple house wife. She gave up dancing just after her marriage. Nandini came back in to this field again in 1986 almost after a gap of 16 years now as Nandini Singh.

Nandini combines her presentations a fine balance of Nritta, Abhinaya and Lyrical Beauty. She has also to her credits several choreographic works. She has rendered her performances in all prestigious festivals throughout India and abroad, in Russia, Turkmenistan, Khrigystan, US of A, UK Germany, Caribbean Islands, West Indies, Afghanistan, Mauritius, Sri Lanka etc.Nandini, in her effort to awaken our younger generation to the sensibilities and aesthetics of dance, conducts regular classes, lecture demonstrations and concerts organised all over India by Spic – Macay, and Bal bhwan organisations. She has also formulated a charitable organisation in 1996 named “Vaasuki Natyashala”. In addition to being an excellent dancer with beauty and charming personality, she has proven herself to be an excellent teacher and acquired formidable reputation by being a Senior Guru at Sri Ram Bhartiya Kala Kendra, New Delhi for more than two decades . In the past she has been invited as a visiting lecturer, by Sangeet Natak Akadmi, for taking theory lessons for senior students at Kathak Kendra, New Delhi. Until recently she has been teaching the nuances of kathak at Kathak Kendra , New Delhi as a "Varistha Guru".


Pratibimb (students galore)

Apart from giving her regular performances, lectures demonstrations etc. Nandini is also involved in promoting her trivial effort, of churning the waters of Kathak teaching, through her dance institute ‘Vaasuki Natyashala’, which has been accredited by Kathak Kendra as their west zone training centre in Delhi.



Among her students are young dancers like, Poornima Roy, Leena Malakar, Shefali Goel, Salila Panda, Partho Das to name a few, who are already gaining appreciations and reviews for their work and performances nationwide. Sur Singar Samsad has conferred Poornima and Leena with Singar mani’s.
Critics have praised Poornima Roy by saying they were struck by the Gem of Jaipur Gharana in her recitals and she is surely a feather in her teachers cap.
Leena Malakar, another senior disciple of Guru Nandini Singh, has been praised by critics for executing the technicalities of her dance with effervescent ebullience.



Samman (Aawards and Felicitations)

Nandini has been facilated by various prestigious awards like
Chirag-e-Nau
Rajasthan Rang Manch award,
Abhivyakti Kala Sangam award,
Outstanding Woman of the year award by Indian Air Force etc.
Raja ram Mohan Roy foundation award for the Best Teacher in 1998,
Pt Durga Lal Samman 2013
Senior Fellowship from the Government of India, for her research on Parans in Kathak. 

Critic accolades'

Danseuse makes the right moves - Spic Macay organised a scintillating dance performance by renowned kathak dancer Nandini Singh , She ignited the stage with her beautiful balance of nritya, abhinay and lyrical beauty. The highlight of the day was the question-answer session where children were encouraged to ask questions pertaining to Indian dance and music. The questions were answered with equal aplomb by the artiste. All in all it was yet another milestone in the glorious cultural history of Spic Macay.

- The Tribune (Chandighar edition), 2009


The weeklong Kathak Mahotsav featured over forty high class presentations. Nandini Singh’s supreme grace and proficiency triumphed with, perfection characterising the Sunderprasad “Thai tat Thai Tat Ta” with folded hands, the “Chaal me thaat and thaat me chaal”, Hiralal’s Panchmukhi creation, the subtleties of the “ghungat chal” and the upaj.

- L.V The Hindu, 2009


Nandini Singh, is known for her balanced nritta and abhinaya. When she started performing, it was like a magic. Light on her feet, she moved with such grace and ease that one wondered at the rare phenomenon. Doubtless the evening belonged to Nandini Singh. The beauty of her face and the expressions it registered, the delicacy of the movements and the impact it created left a lingering impression, It was the highlight of the festival.

- Dr. Sunil Kothari http://www.narthaki.com/info/rev09/rev718.html, 2009


Kaladharmi’s second Keshav Smriti Festival devoted to dance, music and theatre. And fitting the memory of the late Keshav Kothari, Secretary of Sangeet Natak Akademi for seven years, the performance part was substantiated by lectures for school children on art aesthetics in the present scenario with Nandini Singh presenting a highly communicative lecture on Kathak aesthetics.

- L.V The Hindu, 2008


Nandini Singh, who in the homage to her guru the late Durgalal, gave a Kathak recital at the Kamani, leaving all speechless with the light-footed sensual grace.

- L.V The Hindu, 2008


Nandini Singh’s Kathak institution Vaasuki Natyashala aims at making teaching a churning of the Kathak waters for dance ambrosia (in the manner of Vasuki the mythical serpent).

- L.V The Hindu, 2007


“Ingratitude, thy name is man”, Guru Purnima has become a mere formality. But For kathak dancer Nandini Singh, a Jaipur gharana exponent, observing Guru Purnima is an article of faith rising above tokenism.

- L.V The Hindu


Nandini was the very epitome of grace and allure. There is poetry in her body and she has subtle approach to rhythm where and idea is slowly developed through mathematical permutations. Tantalizing pauses with the elongated vowels in the mnemonics we all part of the fare with the dancer finding the ‘Sam’ with smiling grace and precision. Her portrayal of Siva in the concluding expressional piece showed a deep feel for the finer aspects of abhinaya.

. The Hindu


Gave a taut and fine Kathak demonstration... technical mastery of pure dance ... Dasavtar based on Jayadeva’s verses rarely done in Kathak, was commendable exhibition of controlled abhinaya.

-LV. Patriot


Acquitted her well. Her keen sense of rhythm was evident in her rendering of pure dance.

-Statesman