Natraj Gopi Krishna was born into a family of Kathak dancers. His maternal grandfather Pandit Sukhdev Maharaj was a teacher of Kathak and his aunt Sitara Devi was a Kathak dancer who has performed around the world. When he was 11 years old, Gopi Krishna began training under his grandfather. He also learned from Shambhu Maharaj. In addition to Kathak, Gopi Krishna learned Bharatanatyam from Mahalingam Pillai and Govind Raj Pillai. Despite suffering from chronic asthma he continued to expand his dance repertoire,receiving the title of “Nataraj” (King of Dancers) at the All Bengal Music Conference at the age of 15.

In 1952, 17-year-old Gopi Krishna became one of the youngest choreographers in Hindi film history when he was hired to choreograph dances for Madhubala in Saqi. In 1955, he appeared in his first film Jhanak Jhanak Payal Baaje which became a landmark film in the history of Indian dance and cinema, for it showed how classical dancing when properly used by film makers, would yield rich dividends. In the film he played Girdhar, a talented young dancer whose love for his partner jeopardizes his dancing career. The film was successful and helped to revitalize public interest in classical dance. The film brought him fame all over the country and abroad.

Later Hollywood film maker Merchant Ivory hired him for his Hollywood film Perfect Murder. He also choreographed many films like Grahasti (1963), Dastaan, Mehbooba, Umrao Jaan, Naache Mayuri (1986). During the 1960s and 70s, he toured India’s border posts, entertaining soldiers with Sunil Dutt’s Ajanta Arts Cultural Troupe. Gopi Krishna later established the Nateshwar Bhavan dance academy and the Nateshwar Nritya Kala Mandir. In 1975 the Indian government awarded him India’s fourth highest civilian award, the Padma Shri. He set a world record for the longest continuous Kathak dance at 9 hours and 20 minutes.

When we think of ‘Dancing Heroes’- the names that instantly pop up are Shammi Kapoor, Jeetendra, Mithun Chakraborty, Govinda, Jaaved Jaafrey and Prabhudheva but rarely does any one recall the dancing maverick Gopi Krishna, who trained most of Indian Cinema’s superstars from Dilip Kumar to leading actress like Madhubala, Meena Kumari, Nargis to Dimple Kapadia, Reena Roy, Anita Raj, Padma Khanna, Manisha Koirala, Raveena Tandon and Twinkle Khanna to name a few.

Gopi Krishna married Kathak dancer Savitri in 1954. His daughter Shampa Sonthalia was born in 1980. She became a choreographer and dancer as well, placing as the winner in the 5th and 7th season of Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa where she was paired with actors Gurmeet Choudhary and Ashish Sharma respectively. Shampa Sonthalia has worked with Nateshwar Dance Academy namely the Chalo Cinema series of stage productions and the Sunday Times Eastern Bridal Fair 2013 and 2014. Shampa Sonthalia will be back this August to work with us in creating another memorable Sunday Times Eastern Bridal Fair. For more information about Shampa Sonthalia and her choreography CLICK HERE.

Principal of Nateshwar Dance Academy, Smeetha Maharaj trained under the esteemed guidance of Natraj Gopi Krishna. This experience has created the foundation for which Nateshwar Dance Academy rests upon. To date, the school imparts the knowledge and dance style of Natraj Gopi Krishna among various forms of Folk Dances and Modern elements of Dance. We are are forever grateful for Natraj Gopi Krishna’s contribution to Classical Indian Dance as we carry this legacy forward.

Watch this beautiful two-part documentary about Natraj Gopi Krishna.