Dance - scope, careers, colleges, skills, jobs, salary

Birju Maharaj is a leading exponent and torch-bearer of Kathak dance form. He is the only son and disciple of Shri Achhan Maharaj and a familiar face of Indian Kathak dance all over the world. He has performed in several countries. He is a wonderful singer with a strong grip over, Thumri, Dadra, Bhajan and Ghazals. He gave his first performance at the age of seven. Pandit Birju Maharaj is not only a Kathak dancer but also a sensitive poet and captivating orator. His constant attempt to take Kathak to a whole new level fructified when he managed to make people take note of this dance form, not only in India but in the western countries as well. Introduced to Kathak at a very young age, Birju went on to master the nuances of arguably one of the most difficult classical dances of India. Known for his facial expressions and nimble feet movements, Pandit Birju Maharaj is considered as the epitome of Kathak by many.

Rukmini Devi Arundale was an Indian theosophist, dancer and choreographer of the Indian classical dance form of Bharatanatyam, and an activist for animal rights and welfare. She also is the first ever woman in Indian history to be nominated as the Rajya Sabha member. She is considered the most important revivalist in the Indian classical dance form of Bharatanatyam from its original 'sadhir' style, prevalent amongst the temple dancers, Devadasis, she also worked for the re-establishment of traditional Indian arts and crafts. Though she belonged to the Indian upper-caste she espoused the cause of Bharata Natyam, which was considered a low and vulgar art in the early 1920s.

Shovana Narayan is a famous and recognized Indian Kathak dancer. She is taken by the youth of today as pioneer and a role model in successfully combining two parallel careers with success and dignity. She performs in India and around the world, and has been awarded the Padma Shri. Her guru is Birju Maharaj. Narayan studied at Miranda House in Delhi, India, graduating with a master's degree in Physics in 1972. She completed MPhil in Defence and Strategic Studies from University of Madras in 2008 and M.Phil in Social Sciences from Punjab University in 2001. She also worked as a career officer for the Indian Audits & Accounts Service and retired in 2010. She is married to Dr. Herbert Traxl, Austrian Ambassador to India (retired).

Sonal Mansingh is an Indian classical dancer and Guru Bharatanatyam and Odissi dancing style. Sonal Mansingh was born in Mumbai, second of three children to Arvind and Poornima Pakvasa, a noted social worker from Gujarat and Padma Vibhushan winner in 2004. Her grandfather was Mangal Das Pakvasa, a freedom fighter, and one of the first five Governors of India. She started learning Manipuri dance at age four, along with her elder sister, from a teacher in Nagpur, then at age seven she started learning Bharatnatyam from various gurus belonging to the Pandanallur school, including Kumar Jayakar in Bombay. She has "Praveen" and "Kovid" degrees in Sanskrit from Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan and B.A. (Hons) degree in German Literature from Elphinstone College, Bombay.

Yamini 'Poornatilaka' Krishnamurthy is an eminent Indian dancer of Bharatanatyam and Kuchipudi styles of dancing. Yamini Krishnamurthy was born in Madanapalli, Chittoor District, Andhra Pradesh. She was born on a full moon night, and her grandfather named her Yamini Poornatilaka, which means "a full mark on the brow of night." She was brought up in Chidambaram, Tamil Nadu. Her mother tongue is Telugu. Yamini Krishnamurthy debuted in 1957 in Madras. She has the honor of being Asthana Nartaki (resident dancer) of the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam. Some critics have observed that Yamini’s dancing reflects rhythm personified.She was also known as "torch bearer" of Kuchipudi form of dance. She has a leading place as an exponent of Bharatanatyam and Kuchipudi. She imparts dance lessons to younger dancers at her institute, Yamini School of Dance, Hauz Khas, New Delhi.