Anjali Nath is one of the most dynamic artists of a new generation of Kathak soloists. Known for her swift chakkars (spins), crisp footwork and delicate abhinaya, Anjali's solo performances are rooted deeply in the kathak tradition, dazzling to watch, and deeply moving. Anjali carries forward a significant legacy of dedication to high artistry, education and training of the next generation of kathak artists and students, and promotion and evolution of the vast and rich art of kathak dance through performance and teaching.
Anjali is a disciple of renowned Kathak maestro, the late Pandit Chitresh Das, and has been dancing with the Chitresh Das Dance Company (CDDC), based in the San Francisco Bay Area, since 2003. Anjali spent 10 years training directly under the guidance of her Guruji in California, teaching and directing at the Chhandam School and performing in various community arts education programs, several award-winning company productions and has toured extensively with the company throughout the US and India at prestigious venues and cities such as the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts in San Francisco, Roy and Edna Disney Cal/Arts Theater in Los Angeles, Kohler Arts Center, National Centre for Performing Arts in Mumbai, Birla Sabhagar in Kolkata, Bangalore Club, at the Shaniwar Wada Festival of Pune, and several International Kathak Festivals. In addition to solo performances, most recently, Anjali has performed in the critically acclaimed CDDC performances including "Shiva," Pt. Das' last work, "Shabd," featuring Pt. Das' innovative technique of Kathak Yoga, and played the lead as Sita in "Sita Haran" and "Ramayana."
In 1997, Anjali was introduced to the rich and vast world of Kathak dance by Gretchen Hayden, senior disciple of Pandit Das and Artistic Director of Chhandika, while at Tufts University. Since returning to Boston in 2013, Anjali has served as a senior artist and instructor for Chhandika, based in the Boston area and serving greater New England. Anjali serves as co-director of the Chhandika School and Youth Ensemble, organizing institutional activities for Chhandika, student participation in community activities and artistic collaborations across genres. Anjali plays a substantial role in building bridges within and between communities as a teacher, choreographer, and ambassador for the art. In 2013, Anjali also joined the artist roster of the Young Audiences of Massachusetts performing extensively throughout MA for school children and engaging these young audiences in the vast world of Kathak dance.
Anjali holds a B.A. in Psychology from Tufts University and a Masters in Public Health from Boston University. She has passionately pursued her career in Kathak and public health simultaneously for 19 years working with communities and engaging youth in leadership and activities to improve self-esteem and overall health and well-being.
Anjali believes in the art as a vehicle for service to society and a path to self-awareness available to everyone. As an artist and teacher Anjali strives to highlight the relevance, universality, and overall benefits of the multi-faceted art of Kathak for everyone, regardless of age, gender or culture.
