About us

The Chicago Nupur Dance Academy focuses on achieving exceptional standards of Indian Classical dance. We believe in nurturing creativity and artistic development, and offer a warm and positive environment to foster the growth that all aspiring dancers want and need.

Students at Chicago Nupur Dance Academy (CNDA) are trained in the art while maintaining its pristine purity. Constant effort is made to make the teaching as effective and interesting as possible, in the traditional Gurukul way, without compromising on the technical aspects of style. It aims not just to teach dance for the year-end recital or performing at various events but to also introduce many skills necessary to become an accomplished and astute learner for years to come.

Guru Mahaswata Ganguly is the Founder and Director of the Chicago Nupur Dance Academy. She is a foremost disciple of the legendary Kathak maestro, Nritya Shiromoni Guru Bandana Sen, as well as Kathak maestro Nrityavilash Guru Suchandra Banerjee. Recently, Guru Mahaswata-ji was invited by UNESCO to present the classical dance form of Kathak at the World Congress Festival, organized in collaboration with UNESCO and the International Dance Council in Athens, Greece. She has also directed and choreographed several productions for the North American Bengali Conference (NABC) 2024, including the Opening Ceremony in Chicago.

Alongside her artistic journey, Mahaswata Ganguly pursued academic and professional excellence. She completed her MBA at a top-tier management school in India and further studied Marketing at the University of California, Berkeley. Professionally, she has served as a marketing leader at renowned global organizations, including Google, Meta, and leading investment banks.

Mahaswata began her Kathak training at the tender age of three. She went on to earn a Master’s degree in Kathak with distinction and also completed Visharad in Rabindra Nritya, likewise with distinction. In 2006, she was awarded a national scholarship in Kathak by the Department of Culture, Government of India, through the All India Classical Dance Competition. Over the years, Guru Mahaswata-ji has performed extensively across India, Europe, and the United States, with notable appearances at NABC 2022 in Las Vegas and NABC 2023 in Atlantic City.

Guru Mahaswata Ganguly

Founder & Director of Chicago Nupur Dance Academy

Our Gurus

NrityaShiromoni Guru Bandana Sen

Nrityavilash Guru Suchandra Banerjee

Guru Bandana Sen

Legendary Kathak maestro NrityaShiromoni Guru Bandana Sen is amongst the finest dancers that India has ever produced. Kumari Bandana Sen is one of the greatest. Born of a very cultured, educated family, she was mostly inspired by her late father Sri P. C. Sen, a Barrister of Calcutta High Court. She had her early training in Jaipur Gharana from famous dancer Smt. Jaikumari Debi and later she became fortunate enough to get guidance from the legendary Maestro in Lucknow Gharana Nritya Samrat' Sambhu Maharaj.

It is said that whenever NRITYA SHIROMONI Bandana Sen starts her dance, it appears that a thousand lotus blossoms on the stage. Her dance is exquisite, illuminating, and forceful. Style is full of elegance, chaste and captivating. From her appearance on the stage, she makes an immediate rapport with the audience through her towering personality. Her exposition of ‘bhava’ (expression) is so graceful and poetic that she is called the Queen of expression'. It is an additional attraction to hear her distinct ‘bols’ on different ‘talas’, Urdu ‘Sairees’ (Poems), and sweet songs.

Titles ‘NRITYA SHIROMONI’, ‘KATHAK QUEEN’, ‘BHAV SAMRAGGI’, ‘NRITYASRI’ Gold medals from the President of India, Sir Jahangir Gandhi. Sir Padampat Singhania. Nawab Sir Reza AH Khan Bahadur; Gold KUKRI from King of Nepal.

Apart from her dancing career, Kumari Sen is bearing the responsibility of Advisory Committee member and Judge of Television, Rabindra Bharati University, All India Post & Telegraph Association, Paschim Banga Rajya Sangeet Academy, All India Fine Arts Association, and some other Government and eminent private organizations. She has choreographed many productions on Kathak dance. Such as The history of Kathak through the ages, Raagmala, Ritumala, Rhythm of India, Devotees through the ages, Shakuntala, Meerabai, Siddharta, etc. Moreover, for the upliftment and development of Kathak dance, she is running her own institutions Nupur Dance Academy' and Vandana School of Kathak', which are recognized as leading dance institutes in India. Here many students from India and abroad are getting her direct training and guidance.

Pandit Bindadin Maharaj

Pandit Kalika Prasad Maharaj

Disciple of Pandit Bindadin Maharaj

Pandit Lachhu Maharaj

Disciple of Pandit Bindadin Maharaj

Pandit Shambhu Maharaj

Son of Pt. Kalika Prasad Maharaj