Harikishan S. Nair

🪔 About

Harikishan S. Nair is a multi-faceted dance artist, choreographer, teacher, dramaturge, mentor, and rehearsal director based in Toronto, Canada. As the Founder and Artistic Director of Regatta Kala Kendra, a South Asian not-for-profit charitable organization established in 2012, he is recognized as a leading voice in the South Asian dance community. Born and raised in Kerala, India, Harikishan began his journey in dance at the age of three. He received fluent training in Bharatanatyam and Mohiniyattam under the guidance of Guru Girija Chandran, a disciple of Guru Suchindram M.M. Pillai and Guru Padmasree Adayar K. Lakshmanan. His Kuchipudi training was under the tutelage of Geetha Krishnakumar and Bijula Balakrishnan, both disciples of the renowned Guru Padmabhushan Dr. Vempatti Chinna Sathyam. Nair's artistic practice is rooted in both lineage and innovation, bridging classical South Asian aesthetics with contemporary discourse. He is known for his deeply embodied practice and his commitment to fostering equity in the Canadian dance sector, advocating for the visibility and inclusion of racialized dance artists. His extensive performance career has taken him across India, the UK, the USA, and Canada, where his choreographic works and teaching residencies are regularly presented at major festivals and institutions. He has collaborated with celebrated artists such as Dr. Padma Subrahmanyam, Madurai R. Muralidharan, Dr. Menaka Thakkar, Janak Khendry, Brandy Leary, Harikrishnan, and Lata Pada. Beyond Regatta Kala Kendra, Harikishan is also the Co-Founder of ATAM Arts Collective, Associate Artistic Director of ĀNANDAṀ Dancetheatre, and Co-Director of the South Asian Dance Alliance of Canada (SADAC). His artistic and leadership contributions have been supported by organizations including the Metcalf Foundation, Canada Council for the Arts, Ontario Arts Council, and Toronto Arts Council.