NATHALIE MASSON
Nathalie is a Kathak dancer born in Geneva (Switzerland). At a young age she started training in classical dance and modern jazz. After several years trying different dance styles, she realized that her beloved style was Bollywood dance, that she practiced for some years.
Then, during a Kathak dance workshop in Geneva, she met the dancer who was soon to become her guru, Smt. Sushmita Banerjee, a celebrated Kathak exponent (belonging to the Lucknow Gharana) based in Kolkata, and the sparks flew. Since then she is totally focused on Kathak and she had the incredible opportunity to follow with her guru the traditional way of teaching: guru-shishya paramparā.
She currently travels several times a year to Kolkata in order to attend Smt. Sushmita Banerjee teaching and to participate in Kathak performances across the country of the maharajas. In parallel she is following the traditional Kathak syllabus and every year she presents herself to the official Kathak exams held by the Institute Prayag Sangeet Samiti - Allahabad. In 2015, she has obtained the Prayag Sangeet Samiti's 6th year diploma in Kathak with first division (BA in Kathak).
As a complement to her Kathak training, she is following vocal lessons, as well as traditional Hindustani musical education. She also holds a Diploma in Languages and Cultures of India and Iran (Universidad de Salamanca - Spain) and a Diploma in Economics and Business in India (Instituto de Altos Estudios Universitarios - Spain).
Thanks to her dance she has been incredibly lucky to meet several artists from India and across the world, who all have in common their dedication and love for the dance art.
