Nalini Toshniwal

🪔 About

Nalini Toshniwal is a renowned Kathak exponent, teacher, and institution head, originally from Kashmir, India. She developed a keen interest in classical music and dance from childhood, beginning her Kathak training at the age of 11 under Guru Manak Dutt Jodhpuri. She furthered her education by completing a Master's course in Kathak, known as "VISHARAD," from Chandigarh University in India. Beyond dance, Toshniwal holds Master's Degrees in Physics and English, and a Diploma in Textile Designing. In 1990, Nalini Toshniwal established the "Ruchika Indian Dance Academy" in Ajmer, India. Two years later, in 1992, she moved to Japan, where she re-established and continues to run "RUCHIKA" in Osaka and Kobe. She currently resides in Ashiya-city, Hyogo, Japan. Toshniwal has performed Kathak extensively in various Japanese cities, including Nagoya, Kobe, Wakayama, Toyama, Sapporo, Nishinomiya, and Osaka, as well as in Leicester, UK. Her performances have also been broadcast on NHK, the Japanese national television network. As a dedicated promoter of Indian culture, Nalini Toshniwal has been a member of the International Dance Council (CID UNESCO) since 2009 and has served as the President of the CID-UNESCO Ashiya Section for the past decade. She actively teaches Kathak and Yoga, and has also explored traditional Japanese dance forms like Nihon Buyo, noting similarities with Kathak. She believes in the power of culture as a bridge of understanding between people.