GURU URMILA NAGAR

Born 1945, in Jodhpur, Rajasthan, Urmila Nagar began dancing at a very young age and immediately attracted attention. Her father supported and encouraged her – took her to many performances of dance and instrumental music.

Her light-footedness and wonderful perception of rhythm and expressive abilities won her scholarships and recognition. She spent 2 years as an adult in Amsterdam on an extended teaching and performing opportunity which brought her art to Europe. Urmila-ji  is recognized as a fine teacher of Kathak and has been  the senior-most Guru in the National Institute, Kathak Kendra, in New Delhi since 1991.

Urmila Nagar became Prabha Rustagi’s teacher, and after Prabha’s death came to America to continue the training of Prabha’s students. She has loyally traveled yearly to the United States to teach students of LEELA KATHAK since 1996.

During her childhood in Northern India Prabha took lessons in kathak dance, tabla and sitar. She married and had two children at a very young age. Her love for dance and music was very strong and she continued to practice and learn.

Education and work brought her husband to Seattle where the family permanently settled. After her Guru, Durga Lal, died, Prabha sought out Urmila Nagar of the Jaipur Gharana of Kathak and continued to learn from her for the rest of her life. Prabha taught students kathak and finally began to perform.

Prabha participated in many educational outreach projects with her students and as part of a trio, LEELA, sharing her skill and love with children throughout the larger Seattle area. She was the first kathak teacher in Seattle, bringing a loveliness and subtlety to this traditional dance.

Prabha Rustagi passed away in 1994.