NAMRTA RAI 

Born in the picturesque valley of Dehradun, she received her training under the tutelage of Late Dr. Madhukar Anand, of Lucknow Gharana, in the age old Vedic system of receiving knowledge called Guru Shyshya Parampara.

She completed her bachelor’s degree from Bhatkhande, Lucknow and Master’s degree from Khairagarh University, M.P. in the elegant form of Lucknow Gharana, of which the Doyen is none other than Padma Vibhushan Pt. Birju Maharaj.

Namrta is an empanelled artist and teacher of Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR). Namrta also participated at numerous dance competitions winning them all, like Uttar Pradesh Sangeet Natak Academy, National Scholarship by Ministry of Human resources and development, Govt. of India, Madhurima Sangeet Samiti, Haridwar, Pratibha Khoj organized by D.A.V. Intermediate College, Dehradun, Bhatkhande Music College competition, Dehradun and Cultural department of Uttaranchal, Dehradun.etc.

Namrta is a recipient of Spic-Macay scholorship under which she had the honour and opportunity to learn from world renowned dance Maestro Pt. Birju Maharaj ji, also co organized by Nehru Center, Mumbai and Kalashram, Kolkata where she also performed for the third Kalashram Festival (Panch-Tatva) representing the outcome of the workshop by the Maestro (assisted by Ms. Saswati Sen).

Trained thus as a complete and versatile artiste, Namrta has developed her own style of solo presentations displaying the traditional techniques and spectacular innovations to this antique art. Her performances are marked by lively and imaginative inventiveness.

Today Namrta is achieving greater heights under the tutelage of Pandit Udai Mazumdar and is one of the most sought after amongst the young generation of Kathak dancers, in the country and abroad.

Namrta lives in Dehradun and is engaged in performing all over India including the Indian National Television and teaching private students. She also imparts her knowledge as the dance instructress at ICC Paramaribo, Suriname.


UDAI MAZUMDAR

On the precincts of percussion and maxims of melody a name, it seems, has come to stay.
 A name which is now creating melodic and rhythmic raptures in uncounted musical concerts all over the globe is Udai Mazumdar.

Udai hails from a family of musicians and fine artistes of   Allahabad, India.  His father, the Late Partho Sarathy Mazumdar, is among the first-generation of guitarists in the field of Indian Classical music.

A versatile tabla player of the Benares Gharana, and also a composer of great finesse, Udai has over the years, consciously evolved into an evocative and expressive tabla player. This could also be attributed to his musicianship and sensitive approach both artistically and professionally. His dedication and commitment to the classical music genre and the time-tested Indian drum has made him equally adept as a soloist and as an accompanist. Udai, thus, naturally aspires to apply his skills to integrate the tabla as part of a musical whole in the performance arena.