Vaswati Mishra

Vidushi Vaswati Misra (also spelled Mishra) is a senior Kathak exponent associated with the Lucknow Gharana tradition. She received her formative training at Kathak Kendra under Pandit Birju Maharaj and Reba Vidyarthi. Through her lineage and artistic practice, she remains closely connected to the stylistic heritage of Pandit Shambhu Maharaj. She was married to the late Pandit Krishan Mohan Misra, the eldest son of Pandit Shambhu Maharaj.

In 1999, she founded Dhwani Dance and Music Academy in New Delhi with the objective of preserving and transmitting this lineage-based approach to Kathak. As a guru, she has trained multiple generations of dancers, combining rigorous technique with an emphasis on expressive depth.

Her choreographic work often places traditional Kathak in dialogue with literature and poetry. Productions such as Coalesce, inspired by the verses of Rumi, reflect this approach, using classical movement vocabulary to engage with broader literary and philosophical themes.

Vidushi Vaswati Misra continues to remain active on major classical platforms. In March 2025, she performed a duet with Vidushi Saswati Sen at the 37th Kathak Mahotsava. She is scheduled to present a group Kathak production by Dhwani at the 28th Vasantotsava, to be held from 2–4 February 2026 at Kamani Auditorium, New Delhi. Through performance, teaching, and institution-building, she contributes to the continuity of the Lucknow Gharana tradition in contemporary Kathak practice.