Our Artists
Ashwini
London based Kathak artist Ashwini was born into a family dedicated to dance, art and culture. Ashwini has completed a Masters degree in Kathak from Pune University in India where she was awarded a scholarship by Government of India. As a choreographer she has created classical, folk and fusion sequences. Ashwini has performed Kathak in the Hindi movie ‘Devdas’ under the able guidance of Pandit Birju Maharaj.
Geeta Mehta
A Choreographer, dancer and performer, Geeta has been dancing since the age of five, and teaches and performs dance across the UK. Geeta has professional training in ballet, jazz and tap dance and has since specialised in Bollywood and South Asian dance styles. She works with the company on education and community projects.
Cathy Seago
Cathy is currently working in partnership with Artistic Director Sushmita Pati to create new work 'Beyond Boundaries'.
Further information coming soon...
Further information coming soon...
Visual artists Bhajan Hunjan and Kulwinder Bajar. More information coming soon
Manjeet Raasiya
Kiranpal Singh
Kiranpal performs Indian classical music on the Santoor which is an ancient 100 stringed Indian Classical instrument of Kashmir formally known as Shata Tantri Veena. He studied under Pandit Shivkumar Sharma in Mumbai. Kiran's work has enabled him to play at Buckingham Palace, South Bank Centre, Royal Albert Hall, Spitalfields Festival and other important festivals in the UK, Europe and beyond.
Niraj Chag
Niraj Chag is an award winning London-based musical artist and composer. His musical style mixes Indian classical influences with contemporary stylings and layered, complex beats. Niraj's tracks were initially released on the Outcaste record label and later on his own Buzz-erk label. He has written and produced three albums released under his own name: Along the Dusty Road (2006), The Lost Souls (2009) and Mud Doll 2015, Kanya and many more. Last year for the 1st time we composed and wrote music for Sushmita Pati as part of Footnotes production and is writing another score for 2022.
Niraj Chag is an award winning London-based musical artist and composer. His musical style mixes Indian classical influences with contemporary stylings and layered, complex beats. Niraj's tracks were initially released on the Outcaste record label and later on his own Buzz-erk label. He has written and produced three albums released under his own name: Along the Dusty Road (2006), The Lost Souls (2009) and Mud Doll 2015, Kanya and many more. Last year for the 1st time we composed and wrote music for Sushmita Pati as part of Footnotes production and is writing another score for 2022.
Mehboob Nadeem
Mehboob Nadeem: Sitar player and Singer Born into a highly illustrious family of traditional musicians of the Agra Gharana, Mehboob is the grandson of the legendary Ustad Vilayat Hussain Khan (Pranpiya) and Gayan Samrat Ustad Azmat Hussain Khan (Dilrang).
A gifted artist, Mehboob possesses a keen, aesthetic sense and a matured ability in the development and rendering of a raga. Under the devoted teaching of his Guru and mentor Pandit Arvind Parikh he has excelled in perfecting the techniques and style of the legendary sitar maestro Ustad Vilayat Khan. He is a widely-respected sitar player who is acknowledged as one of the most accomplished of the present generation of the Vilayatkhani Gharana and is known to be one of the best sitar players in the UK.
His performances are truly unique & inspiring and have enthralled audiences in India and abroad. He is regularly called to perform throughout India, Africa, Europe and the far east. He has taught workshops with KTA in 2014, 2015 and song compositions in 2021.
Mehboob Nadeem: Sitar player and Singer Born into a highly illustrious family of traditional musicians of the Agra Gharana, Mehboob is the grandson of the legendary Ustad Vilayat Hussain Khan (Pranpiya) and Gayan Samrat Ustad Azmat Hussain Khan (Dilrang).
A gifted artist, Mehboob possesses a keen, aesthetic sense and a matured ability in the development and rendering of a raga. Under the devoted teaching of his Guru and mentor Pandit Arvind Parikh he has excelled in perfecting the techniques and style of the legendary sitar maestro Ustad Vilayat Khan. He is a widely-respected sitar player who is acknowledged as one of the most accomplished of the present generation of the Vilayatkhani Gharana and is known to be one of the best sitar players in the UK.
His performances are truly unique & inspiring and have enthralled audiences in India and abroad. He is regularly called to perform throughout India, Africa, Europe and the far east. He has taught workshops with KTA in 2014, 2015 and song compositions in 2021.
Senjuti Das
Senjuti is an experienced Odissi, creative and Bollywood artist with Kala The Arts. She is trained in creative styles and does all the workshops with schools and communities for Kala The Arts. She is the lead workshop and performance artist with the organisation. She has been working with the organisation for 12 years. She runs the classes as well for Kala The Arts.
Senjuti is an experienced Odissi, creative and Bollywood artist with Kala The Arts. She is trained in creative styles and does all the workshops with schools and communities for Kala The Arts. She is the lead workshop and performance artist with the organisation. She has been working with the organisation for 12 years. She runs the classes as well for Kala The Arts.
Raheem Mir
Raheem Mir; Dance artist, costume designer Raheem is double Master graduate from Royal Holloway University of London Raheem is to explore gender and social theories through his dance and academic. He worked with Kala The Arts in 2021 on 2 productions Sounds of the Earth and Basingstoke Pride festival.
Raheem Mir; Dance artist, costume designer Raheem is double Master graduate from Royal Holloway University of London Raheem is to explore gender and social theories through his dance and academic. He worked with Kala The Arts in 2021 on 2 productions Sounds of the Earth and Basingstoke Pride festival.
Mithun Gill
Mithun is a Kathak dancer from Bedford learning under the guidance of Sujata Banerjee in London. Graduating with a BA Hons Dance degree from Middlesex University allowed him to explore other dance territories through training in various contemporary techniques including Graham, Humphrey, Cunningham, and Release techniques.
Mithun has performed extensively with the Sujata Banerjee Dance Company, recently performing an ensemble piece Together We Can which was toured in in Kolkata, Mumbai, premiering in Kamani Auditorium at the famous Vasant Utsav festival in Delhi. The UK premiere took place in London Arts Depot, continued by a performance in Birmingham Crescent Theatre.
Most recently Mithun worked with the Balbir Singh Dance Company in the production Synchronised, Painting the Indian Gods and Unveiling of the statue both new works premiered at the Billingham International Folklore Festival. Mithun Gill joined KTA last year for Footnotes production as a dance artist in 2021.
Mithun is a Kathak dancer from Bedford learning under the guidance of Sujata Banerjee in London. Graduating with a BA Hons Dance degree from Middlesex University allowed him to explore other dance territories through training in various contemporary techniques including Graham, Humphrey, Cunningham, and Release techniques.
Mithun has performed extensively with the Sujata Banerjee Dance Company, recently performing an ensemble piece Together We Can which was toured in in Kolkata, Mumbai, premiering in Kamani Auditorium at the famous Vasant Utsav festival in Delhi. The UK premiere took place in London Arts Depot, continued by a performance in Birmingham Crescent Theatre.
Most recently Mithun worked with the Balbir Singh Dance Company in the production Synchronised, Painting the Indian Gods and Unveiling of the statue both new works premiered at the Billingham International Folklore Festival. Mithun Gill joined KTA last year for Footnotes production as a dance artist in 2021.
Yousuf Ali Khan
Yousuf comes from the same famous musical dynasty as Ali Akhbar Khan, and began playing tabla at the age of five. He studied in Kolkata before coming to England from Bangladesh in 1980 at the invitation of Leicester Music Service, to help set up South Asian music teaching in the city.
Yousuf has worked extensively as a performer, workshop leader, and music teacher ever since, and has been working with Grand Union for over 20 years. He has done several workshops and performances with Kala The Arts and toured performance projects in the South Region. He has performed with Kala The Arts for 5 consecutive years from 2014 – 2019 pre covid. This year he will be performing in Autumn 2022 at Forge Anvil.
Yousuf comes from the same famous musical dynasty as Ali Akhbar Khan, and began playing tabla at the age of five. He studied in Kolkata before coming to England from Bangladesh in 1980 at the invitation of Leicester Music Service, to help set up South Asian music teaching in the city.
Yousuf has worked extensively as a performer, workshop leader, and music teacher ever since, and has been working with Grand Union for over 20 years. He has done several workshops and performances with Kala The Arts and toured performance projects in the South Region. He has performed with Kala The Arts for 5 consecutive years from 2014 – 2019 pre covid. This year he will be performing in Autumn 2022 at Forge Anvil.
Surjit Singh and Avtar Singh: (Sarangi, Sarod and Dilruba)
Surjit Singh a senior musician, teacher one of the most renowned Sarangi player has been working with KTA since 2017 to date. He is joined by his senior disciple Avtar Singh on Taaus and Dilruba. All are string instruments.
Surjit Singh a senior musician, teacher one of the most renowned Sarangi player has been working with KTA since 2017 to date. He is joined by his senior disciple Avtar Singh on Taaus and Dilruba. All are string instruments.
Hiren Chate
He has been a professional tabla player and teacher for eight years, performing both in India and in the UK, where he now lives. He learnt with Pt Yogesh Samsi. He has performed and held workshops with organisations including Milapfest and Asian Music Circuit, and performed at events such as Sangeet Sabha in Leicester, South Bank, BBC Proms at the Roundhouse, and the Elton John AIDS Foundation. He worked with Nitin Sawhney on the film A Throw of Dice and with award-winning composer Niraj Chag. He has been working with KTA since 2008. The last extensive project with KTA was Deepali in 2020.
He has been a professional tabla player and teacher for eight years, performing both in India and in the UK, where he now lives. He learnt with Pt Yogesh Samsi. He has performed and held workshops with organisations including Milapfest and Asian Music Circuit, and performed at events such as Sangeet Sabha in Leicester, South Bank, BBC Proms at the Roundhouse, and the Elton John AIDS Foundation. He worked with Nitin Sawhney on the film A Throw of Dice and with award-winning composer Niraj Chag. He has been working with KTA since 2008. The last extensive project with KTA was Deepali in 2020.
Gudrun Maertins
Gudrun is an international Odissi dancer who trained in India for a number of years under the guidance of Sangeeta Dash. She has a Masters degree in Odissi from Orissa in India. She lives and teaches in Germany. She has been working with Kala The Arts on various productions and workshops since 2002.
Gudrun is an international Odissi dancer who trained in India for a number of years under the guidance of Sangeeta Dash. She has a Masters degree in Odissi from Orissa in India. She lives and teaches in Germany. She has been working with Kala The Arts on various productions and workshops since 2002.
Aanika
Aanika is a professional, classically trained dancer with a wide range of movement. She is also a Yoga Instructor. Her folk dance repertoire is extensive and her Bollywood style is dynamic and funky. She works with the company as a dance teacher on most of our educational projects.
Aanika is a professional, classically trained dancer with a wide range of movement. She is also a Yoga Instructor. Her folk dance repertoire is extensive and her Bollywood style is dynamic and funky. She works with the company as a dance teacher on most of our educational projects.