Richa Jain

🪔 About

Dr. Richa Jain is a distinguished Kathak exponent and a unique "Katha Vaachak" (storyteller) who seamlessly integrates singing and dancing simultaneously in her performances. Born in Delhi, India, she commenced her formal Kathak training at the tender age of three under the tutelage of her parents, both accomplished Kathak exponents. Her father, Guru Shri Ravi Jain, was a disciple of Padmashree Shambhu Maharaj of the Lucknow Gharana and Alaknanda Devi of the Benaras Gharana. Her mother, Guru Smt. Nalini Malhotra Jain, trained under Pt. Sunder Prasad and Pt. Kundan Lal Gangani of the Jaipur Gharana. This extensive training has endowed Richa Jain with a performance style that is a harmonious blend of the Lucknow, Jaipur, and Benaras Gharanas of Kathak. Beyond dance, Richa Jain also received initial vocal music training from Guru Ajit Kumar Mishra and was later groomed in Hindustani classical vocal music by the renowned Guru Pt. A. Maheshwar Rao of the Gwalior Gharana, a recipient of the State Sangeet Natak Academy award. She holds a Ph.D. degree in Dance, a Master's degree in Kathak Dance, and a Master's in Hindustani Classical Vocal Music from Gandharva Mahavidyalaya, alongside a Master's in Commerce from Delhi University. Richa Jain is an A-grade performing artist of Doordarshan (National Television of India) and an empanelled artist with the Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR), the Ministry of External Affairs, and the Ministry of Culture, Government of India. She has performed extensively both nationally and internationally, promoting the ancient temple tradition of "Nritya Seva" through the "Kathavaachan parampara." She is also a published author of the book "Kathak" (2025) and has contributed research papers to reputed journals. Richa Jain has served as a jury member for Delhi University and worked with educational boards like NCERT and ICSE on art integration. She actively trains young Kathak students through her organization, Kala Kunj, based in Delhi, which is dedicated to preserving and nurturing Indian classical art forms. Awards & Honours: Shringar Mani (2009), Award for contribution in the field of Dance (2014), Late Kathak Samrat Pt. Chabinath Misra Kathak Samman (2014), International award for contribution to Indian heritage, Honored for contribution in the field of Dance (2025), Honoured for choreographic production for the Ministry of External Affairs.