Guru
Bharatanatyam Exponent | Lyricist | Composer | Researcher
A lifelong practitioner, creator, researcher, and educator dedicated to preserving and expanding the traditions of Indian classical arts through performance, scholarship, and innovation.
Her Journey
Smita Mahajan has devoted more than four decades to the pursuit of Bharatanatyam. Her artistic journey combines rigorous classical training with continuous exploration in choreography, music composition, literature, and education. Her work reflects a rare synthesis of dance, music, philosophy, and storytelling, resulting in original contributions to the Bharatanatyam repertoire.
Smita Mahajan has conceptualised, directed, choreographed, scripted, written lyrics for, and composed music for numerous dance productions. Her works draw inspiration from Indian literature, mythology, philosophy, history, and contemporary social thought.
Shakuntal, Rukmini, Geet Govind – Rati Sukh Saare, Nrutyageetai, Devi Mahatmyam, Parampara, Dasarendare Purandharadasayya, Meghdoot, Vaijayanti, Margamanavandana, Swatantra Yodhini, Nrutyonmesh, Strot, Nava Vaggeyakar, Dwayee and many more.
Performances
International: London, Birmingham, Dubai, a seven-city USA tour and many more.
India: NCPA Mumbai, Swami Haridas Sangeet Sammelan, South Central Zone Youth Festival, Govt. of Maharashtra Youth Festival, Kalarang Festival (Goa), Bhulabai Desai Memorial Trust, Department of Cultural – Bhopal, Shivratri Utsav at Nataraj Mandir (Satara), Udupi Shri Krishna Temple and many prestigious cultural platforms.
Composer & Vaggeyakara
One of her most significant scholarly contributions is the three-volume publication Margam Unmesh. It documents 150+ original Bharatanatyam compositions, is written in Marathi and Hindi with English meanings, and has been included in the Saraswati Mahal Library, Thanjavur.
She has authored the textbook History of Dance for Pune University, the biography Sharadache Chaandane, and has undertaken comparative research on Hasta Mudras and their Viniyogas.
She has served as faculty and empanelled guru for undergraduate and postgraduate Bharatanatyam students at Lalit Kala Kendra and Bharati Vidyapeeth, mentoring many students who have become performers and teachers.
As co-founder of Artitude, Smita Mahajan has expanded her work beyond the stage by creating meaningful opportunities for young artists and students through competitions, workshops, performances, and symposiums.
With Artitude
As co-founder of Artitude with Dr. Vishwas Mahajan, Smita Mahajan has expanded her work beyond the stage by creating meaningful opportunities for young artists and students through competitions, workshops, performances, and symposiums.
