Growing up in the culturally vibrant lanes of Varanasi, Ashish Singh discovered his calling long before most children even understand the concept of a profession. While his peers spent their early years playing with toys, Ashish found himself mesmerized by the resonant sound of ankle bells and the musical rhythms resonating from local temples. Whenever devotional hymns and kirtan echoed through nearby shrines, his feet moved instinctively. However, his artistic inclinations sparked fierce opposition within his family. His grandfather was vehemently against a boy taking up dance, subjecting young Ashish to reprimands, biting taunts, and even corporal punishment. Despite the persistent pressure to quit, his deep love for rhythm never wavered.
During those difficult early years, his mother and grandmother quietly stood by him, providing emotional protection against domestic anger. Working within those constraints, Ashish initially learned dance through regional folk songs. What began as an instinctive pastime gradually developed into a rigorous pursuit of classical discipline. Today, that enduring passion has taken him across prestigious venues in India and onto international stages in China. For roughly the past decade, Ashish has made Vrindavan his spiritual and artistic base, devoting his daily life to the deep practice of Kathak.
The Kabirchaura Roots and an Early Spark of Inspiration
Ashish Singh was born in Kabirchaura, a historic neighborhood of Kashi renowned for producing legendary classical musicians and performers. Reflecting on his earliest connection with dance, he recalls a significant family gathering from his childhood. Following a prolonged period of separation, his reunion with his parents became a joyous occasion celebrated with a musical gathering. During this event, accomplished Kathak dancer Sarla Narayan Singh held young Ashish in her lap while performing a traditional Holi dance.
Ashish attributes his subconscious bond with Kathak to that singular emotional moment. From then on, rhythm became central to his life. Whenever neighbourhood temples held prayer sessions, he would spontaneously join in and dance. While his grandfather viewed this enthusiasm with disapproval, leading to frequent friction at home, his mother and grandmother helped him navigate the tension. Through folk expressions, he steadily honed his bodily coordination, laying the groundwork for what would become his life vocation.
Training Under Pandit Birju Maharaj Disciple and University Studies
Recognizing that passion needed formal grounding, Ashish sought professional training in Varanasi under Sangeeta Sinha, a disciple of the revered maestro Padma Vibhushan Pandit Birju Maharaj. Under her mentorship, he mastered the complex footwork, intricate rhythmic cycles, and subtle emotive expressions characteristic of the tradition. Determined to build both practical and academic expertise, he enrolled at Banaras Hindu University, earning both his Bachelor's and Master's degrees in Kathak.
For Ashish, Kathak is far more than entertainment or physical choreography; he views it as a spiritual path built on years of rigorous discipline, patience, and absolute commitment. He often emphasizes the historical trajectory of the art form, explaining that Kathak originated inside ancient temple courtyards as an act of devotion, later entered the royal courts where technical brilliance and elaborate rhythm flourished, and eventually reached modern public stages across the globe.
International Appearances and Teaching Over 2500 Students
Equipped with classical mastery, Ashish Singh took his repertoire to major cultural hubs across India. Over the years, he has delivered celebrated performances in Allahabad, Mumbai, Pune, Kolkata, and Lucknow. His artistry also crossed national borders when he traveled to China to showcase Kathak to international audiences, earning praise for the expressive clarity and technical rigor of Indian classical dance.
Alongside performing, Ashish has prioritized classical education, having trained more than 2500 students to date. He strongly advocates breaking Kathak out of elite urban bubbles and metropolitan auditoriums, insisting that young people residing in remote regions and small towns deserve equal access to classical arts. By sharing this heritage with diverse communities, he hopes to ensure the enduring vitality of India's traditional arts.
Free Workshop in Nainital and a Devotional Shift in Vrindavan
In line with his mission to connect new demographics with heritage arts, Ashish recently traveled to the hill town of Nainital. At the Vrindavan School located in Tallital, he is conducting a free five-day Kathak workshop running from September 25 to September 29. The workshop introduces local youth and school students to foundational footwork, hand gestures, and expressive storytelling, furthering his broader vision of spreading classical dance from Kashmir to Kanyakumari and Attock to Cuttack.
Looking back at a journey that started amid domestic scoldings and physical punishment, Ashish now maintains a different set of priorities. While performing on prominent stages previously drove his artistic career, personal spiritual devotion has taken precedence over public acclaim. Currently residing in Vrindavan, he dedicates his daily practice to pleasing Shri Radharaman. The training camp in Nainital represents another step in this spiritual path, focused not on personal fame, but on passing on a treasured artistic tradition to the next generation.
