Our Gurus
RAJNI MAHARAJ
Rajni Maharaj is a Bharatanatyam danseuse trained under renowned Guru Shri Justin McCarthy in Kalakshetra bani. Her training period spans over 15 years in the course of which she attained her post diploma from Shriram Bharatiya Kala Kendra and Prayag Sangeet Samiti.
She has portrayed the lead character of ‘Radha’ in the iconic ballet “Krishna” by Shriram Bhartiya Kala Kendra produced and directed under the guidance of Padmashree Shobha Deepak Singh alongside the reputed repertoire of Kendra.
Being a global artist, she has performed at prestigious dance festivals in India and abroad. She received the ‘Nrityasaarthi’ award and was titled the best performer in Chitwan Mahotsav organised by the Government of Nepal bagging first position in the national level dance festival. Her multifaceted efforts in venturing into avenues of dance made her a choreographer for which she received the best choreographer award by Prayag Sangeet Samiti.
Her fresh ideologies and modern approach makes her work unique and adaptable to themes from mythologies to the new age concepts of dance. She is the co-founder of KathakNatyam which is a traditional fusion of two of the most prominent Indian classical dance forms, Kathak and Bharatanatyam.
TRIBHUWAN MAHARAJ
Tribhuwan Maharaj is a young dancer and music composer of the present generation. Son and disciple of Pt. Jai Kishan Maharaj and grandson of the legendary Kathak Maestro Padma Vibhushan Pandit Birju Maharaj, he represents the ninth generation in the lineage of the illustrious Kalka-Bindadin Gharana of Lucknow.
He had the honour to be present in a ‘Chaugalbandi’ with Ustad Zakir Hussain and his grandfather Pt. Birju Maharaj ji in Palace of Fine Arts, San Francisco and Minneapolis, U.S.A. He has been actively working with Sangeet Natak Akademi, Kathak Kendra and ICCR for performances in India and abroad. His expertise also touches the collaboration of musical instruments. The music, contemporary in its flow, modern in its essence has carved a niche for itself. The music he composes is unique not just in the kathak circuit but beyond that. Recently he has arranged the music for ‘Poorvaraag’, ‘Swar Bhav Rang’, ‘Maharaas’, ‘Meeradha’, ‘Malhar’, ‘Virasat’ and ‘Namah’ which are elaborate dance-dramas conceptualized by Pt. Jai Kishan Maharaj. His music not only synergized with the powerful performances beautifully, but also had an impression on the audience which they had not experienced before. Apart from being a dancer and a music composer, Tribhuwan Maharaj is a talented instrumentalist holding a firm grip on playing various percussion, keys as well as string instruments.
He has been awarded the Bharat Icon Award and the Nrityassarthi Award for his contributions in the field of Kathak. He is the co-founder of KathakNatyam Academy of Dance which promotes a unique style of traditional fusion between two of the most prominent dance forms of India, Bharatanatyam and Kathak.
Ravindra Kumar Soni
Ravindra Kumar Soni is an Indian musician who plays the percussion instrument Tabla. He received his training primarily under the guidance of Pt. Mukund Bhale Ji. He has also been training under the world-renowned Tabla player Pt. Suresh Talwarkar Ji from the past few years. He pursued MA from Khairagarh University and is an experience holder of 18 years in the field of teaching at Ghandharva Mahavidhalaya, New Delhi.
Ravinder Kumar Soni has performed innumerable times all over India. He had been a part of many music festivals like:
- Vishnu Digambar Jayanti Sangeet Samaroh
- Sawai Gandharva Sangeet Mahotsav
- Poorva Eva Mahotsav
- Sahitya Kala Parishad (Delhi)
- Saptak Festival (Ahemdabad)
Elangovan Govindarajan
Elangovan Govindarajan is a widely acclaimed singer, music composer, lyricist and nattuvanar. He trained in Carnatic music under his father Guru K.J. Govindarajan. He also received training from renowned gurus, Shri Shankaranarayanan and Shri T. K. Govindarao.
Firmly rooted in tradition, he has to his credit numerous musical compositions which have been critically acclaimed. As an empanelled artist with the I.C.C.R., Elangovan has traveled extensively in 53 countries, enthralling audiences with his soulful rendering of classical and devotional music. Elangovan has also performed on several occasions for All India Radio and Doordarshan. A versatile artiste, he has collaborated with eminent musicians and dancers from various artistic traditions of the world. To his distinction, Elangovan is a M.A. silver medalist in Indian Classical Music from Rabindra Bharati University.
He has been bestowed with many accolades and titles from World Tamil Association, Hayagriva, World Tamil Centre to name a few. In recognition to his artistic excellence, he has been conferred the title of Isai Mamani by the government of Mauritius. Elangovan is the founder-director of Parampara Centre for Indian Classical Music and Dance where he teaches vocal music and the art of nattuvangam to many aspirants and professional artistes desirous of refining their knowledge.
