Kajal Sharma
- Dr. Pranaame Bhagawati
- Aug 3
- 4 min read
For over three decades, Kajal Sharma has carried the grace, discipline and refined aesthetics of the Lucknow Gharana of Kathak across continents. A senior disciple of the legendary Padma Vibhushan Pt. Birju Maharaj, she received her training at Kathak Kendra, New Delhi, and has since built a distinguished career as a performer, teacher and cultural ambassador in the United Kingdom.
Her journey reflects more than an individual pursuit of excellence. It is also a story of Guru–Shishya Parampara travelling across geographical boundaries—of preserving the grammar and soul of a classical tradition while allowing it to find resonance among new generations and diverse audiences. Through her performances and teaching, Sharma continues to nurture an understanding of Kathak that goes beyond technique, embracing its poetry, musicality, storytelling and spiritual depth. Her association with her guru's repertoire further connects her artistic practice to one of the most influential Kathak lineages of the modern era.
HONOURS AND RECOGNITIONS:
Received a National Scholarship to study at Kathak Kendra, New Delhi, under Pt. Birju Maharaj.
Has performed in around 30 countries worldwide.
Uttar Pradesh Sangeet Natak Akademi Award
Kalashree Award
Sringarmani Award
Top Grade Artist of Doordarshan.
Empanelled Artist with the Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR).
NOTABLE PERFORMANCES:
In September 2024, she presented "Naman" at the Nehru Centre, London—a tribute to her guru, Pt. Birju Maharaj. The production featured his choreographies and highlighted the elegance, rhythmic precision, and expressive depth characteristic of the Lucknow Gharana.
Conducted a three-day advanced Kathak workshop at Kathak Kendra, New Delhi, in February 2024.
Presented a solo recital following the workshop, including Ganesh Vandana, technical compositions in Teentaal and Jhaptaal, and a concluding Thumri.
In this conversation with Amrapali Magazine, Kajal Sharma reflects on the responsibility of carrying a living tradition forward, the challenges of preserving authenticity in the diaspora, and the evolving role of Kathak in a global cultural landscape.
For me, authenticity is the foundation and accessibility is the responsibility. As a senior disciple of Guru Padma Vibhushan Pandit Birju Maharaj Ji, I was trained to uphold the core principles of the Lucknow Gharana: Nazakat, Adaa, grace, Layakari, Abhinaya, and the deep connection between dance, music, and poetry. That training is non-negotiable. The technique, the Bandishes, the Tatkaar, the storytelling grammar — these remain pure to the Gharana. At the same time, living and teaching in the United Kingdom for decades has taught me that for Kathak to survive it must also speak to the world it lives in. My approach has been to keep the marg the same, but change the Bhasha of explanation. With students from diverse cultural backgrounds, I begin with the fundamentals exactly as taught by Maharaj Ji. Once the base is strong, I help them find the emotional and cultural bridge — through stories, rhythm, and expression that they can relate to, while the form itself remains untouched. In performance, I present traditional repertoires — Thumri, Ghazal, Bandish, Chakkardar, Tukde — in their authentic form, but I also create contextual notes and narrations so audiences unfamiliar with Hindi/Urdu poetry or Indian mythology can still connect to the bhava. The aim is not to dilute, but to translate. Kathak’s beauty lies in its ability to communicate across languages when the integrity of the art is maintained.
HAVING DEDICATED DECADES TO TEACHING TO AND PERFORMING KATHAK INTERNATIONALLY, WHAT ROLE DO YOU BELIEVE THE INDIAN DIASPORA PLAYS IN SAFEGUARDING INDIA'S INTANGIBLE CULTURAL HERITAGE, AND WHAT MESSAGE WOULD YOU LIKE TO SHARE WITH THE NEXT GENERATION OF KATHAK PRACTITIONERS AROUND THE WORLD?
The Indian diaspora has a very important role in safeguarding India’s intangible cultural heritage. We are living ambassadors of our traditions far from home. In many ways, the diaspora keeps the art alive through commitment, classrooms, Sabhas, and community support, even when the art is not part of daily life in the way it is in India. Parents who bring their children to class every week, students who perform at community events, and institutions that host classical artists — all of this creates an ecosystem that sustains Kathak outside India. The diaspora also creates new audiences who may have no Indian roots but develop a deep love and respect for the art form.
To the next generation of Kathak practitioners around the world, my message is this: "Learn with humility. Practice with discipline. Perform with integrity."
Do not chase shortcuts. The beauty of Kathak is in its Riyaz and in the lineage. Respect your Guru, respect the Gharana, and respect the art more than you respect your own ego. At the same time, be curious. Understand the meaning behind what you dance. If you know the poetry, if you feel the rhythm in your body, only then can you make Kathak meaningful for any audience, anywhere in the world. Kathak is not just steps. It is culture, history, and spirituality in motion. If we carry it forward with purity and with an open heart, it will continue to inspire for generations to come.
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