Manesh Maharaj

🪔 About

Manesh Maharaj is a highly celebrated Kathak exponent, teacher, and guru based in Durban, South Africa. His profound journey into Indian classical dance and music began at the tender age of seven in his hometown of Kharwastan. Maharaj pursued rigorous formal training at the renowned Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan in Mumbai, India, where he dedicated seven and a half years to Hindustani Shastriya Sangeet. In 1996, he earned his 'Sangeet Visharad' (B. MUS) with specializations in Hindustani vocal music and sitar, subsequently undertaking two and a half years of postgraduate studies. Concurrently, he immersed himself in the ancient Guru-Shishya Parampara tradition, becoming a senior disciple of the legendary Kathak Guru, the late Sushri Madhurita Sarang, at her Nritya Darshan institute in Mumbai. As a consummate artist, Maharaj has performed extensively in India, including on All India Radio, and has garnered wide acclaim for his mesmerizing displays and mastery of Kathak. He is regarded as the doyen of Kathak in South Africa, known for his meticulous portrayal and excellence in the art form. In 1999, Maharaj founded the Kala Darshan – Institute of Classical Music and Dance in South Africa, serving as its Artistic Director. The institute is dedicated to preserving, propagating, and advancing the standards of Indian classical performing arts, offering training in Kathak, Hindustani vocal, sitar, tabla, and harmonium. Under the banner of Kala Darshan, he has produced and directed over 50 music and dance productions, blending modern institutional methods with the traditional Guru-Shishya parampara. Manesh Maharaj has been a significant cultural ambassador, representing South Africa at the International Dance Festival hosted by the Indian Council for Cultural Relations in India in 2011. His solo Kathak performance, "SATVIKA," was released on DVD in February 2014, marking a significant first for a South African artist. He also ventured into film, choreographing for 'THE DANCE' in 2014, which was screened at the Durban International Film Festival. Maharaj has collaborated with contemporary dance choreographers, notably Lliane Loots, on successful productions like "Bhakti" and "Migrations," showcasing Kathak to wider, cross-cultural audiences.