Naadashray by Mohana Katdare

Naadashray -Kathak Nrutya Kala Mandir

Dance - to acknowledge happiness, expression & appreciation.

About

Mrs. Mohana Katdare is a disciple of Guruvarya Mrs. Manjiri Deo under her guidance completed her Nrutya Alankar (Post Graduate Diploma of ABGMM in Kathak) and M.A in Kathak from KKSU, Ramtek. 

She took her baby steps in field of Kathak and completed her Nrutya Visharad (Diploma of ABGMM in Kathak) under the guidance of Mrs. Nivedita Ranade. 

She is learning Kathak for past 19 years. She has experience of teaching Kathak under the guidance of both of her Gurus from 2014-2019. 

She started her own academy- Naadashray in 2020. 

Moreover, she also holds a M.A (Hons) English from Mumbai University. 

Currently she is pursuing research and advance training under the guidance of her Guru Dr. Mrs. Manjiri Deo.

My Journey

Naadashray: A Dream Realized

My dance journey began at the age of 11, but my passion for dance ignited even earlier when I started dancing to Bollywood songs and emulating their choreography. I vividly recall being inspired by iconic dances like "Chaiya Chaiya" and "Mitwa." I honed my skills through free-style dancing and developed a movement vocabulary.

Though my family urged me to learn Hindustani Classical Music, my heart belonged to dance. After a phase of sports, my mother enrolled me in Kathak dance classes under my first Guru, Mrs. Nivedita Ranade. There, I delved into the intricacies of Kathak, eventually completing my Visharad (graduation) and teaching as her assistant.

My journey took a significant turn when I pursued my Alankar (post-graduation) under the guidance of my Guru's Guru, Dr. Mrs. Manjiri Shreeram Deo. This transition made me see Kathak as a potential career.

Blessed by Dr. Mrs. Manjiri Sreeram Deo, I started teaching as her assistant and pursued a Masters in Kathak, drawing connections between literature, Rasa theory, and choreography. This transformed my core thought from teaching literature to teaching dance creatively and passionately.

I established my own dance academy, Naadashray, on February 10, 2020, but it faced challenges due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Adapting to technology, I continued online classes, finding solace in the art of dance. Naadashray, meaning the universal sound 'Naad,' pays homage to the Lord of dance, Natraj, under whose shelter we seek solace and dedication to Natya, Nrutya, and Sangeet.