Kathak Artist and Guru Aditi Mangaldas, disciple of Kumudini Kakhia ji and Pt. Birju Maharaj ji!

A very profound Kathak Artist and a Guru Aditi Mangaldas started training in Kathak dance under Kumudini Lakhia at Kadamb Centre for Dance in Ahmedabad at a young age. Later She has trained under Pundit Birju Maharaj. at Kathak Kendra, Delhi. During her training with both her Gurus, she travelled to many parts of the world as a member of their troupe. Besides dancing classical Kathak, she uses the strong foundation of classical dance to evolve a contemporary vocabulary in Kathak, for which she has received international acclaim. Mangaldas has won numerous awards for her notable contributions in Kathak . She heads the Aditi Mangaldas Dance Company – The Drishtikon Dance Foundation, Delhi, where she is the artistic director and runs the repertory consisting of Kathak dancers and musicians. As quoted by the Guardian, London in 2017, “Mangaldas owned the stage without trying to earn it……” Or at the Perth International Arts Festival, 2016, “Her artistry and poise, her dramatic gifts and unshakable technique are truly astounding” …. and at the Edinburgh International Festival, 2012, “Her concept of the intangible embraces the divine and the profoundly human: love and freedom, truth and beauty being as cosmically mystical as god.” Celebrated around the world for the startling richness and intricacy of her dance and choreography, Aditi won the UK Theatre Award 2024 in the category of ‘Achievement in Dance’ for MEHEK, a duet with her co-choreographer and dancer Aakash Odedra. Aditi was nominated for the National Dance Awards UK 2024 in the category of ‘Outstanding Female Classical Performance’ & ‘Best Classical Choreography’ (joint nomination with Aakash Odedra) for MEHEK. Aditi Mangaldas is empanelled with ICCR (Indian Council for Cultural Relations, Government of India) in the ‘outstanding artist’ category. She has received many awards and recognitions of which the Gujarat Sangeet Natak Academy award, India 2007 as well as the National Sangeet Natak Akademi award, India 2013, she declined due to compelling reasons. Of few other awards, Devi Award 2025 for extraordinary achievement | Awarded by The New Indian Express, India is her recent award. Aditi has won much critical acclaim across the world including at major international dance festivals.