Dr Malabika Mitra is one of the foremost Kathak exponents of India with outstanding brilliance . From the tender age of 3 years , Dance has become a part of her life . An artist of rare individuality she has extensiveknowledge of the two important Gharanas of kathak :- Jaipur Gharana and Lucknow Gharana . She was trained in Jaipur Gharana by Late Pandit Ramgopal Mishra , son of late Pandit Jailal Maharaj , for more than 14 years.She had been studying the nuances of Lucknow Gharana and the Old Traditional Temple Art of Story-telling Style of Ayodhya under Late Pandit Om Prakash Maharaj ( disciple of great Guru of Lucknow Gharana Late Pandit Lachchhu Maharaj ) for more than a decade . Malabika has also got the experience of the individual styles of Pandit Birju maharaj , Smt Sitara Devi and Pandit Vijay Shankar . With long years of intensive training and sheer dedication towards the art form Kathak , Malabika has developed complete command over the idioms of Kathak :- whether rhythmic compositions or expressional items .She has flawless technique with scintillating footwork , crisp and incisive bols , impressive padhant , pleasantpersonality and a pair of large eloquent eyes which she employs with artistic effect . Through the years ,with herown creative temperament , she has evolved a strong individual style combining the technical brilliance of JaipurGharana with the delicate grace of Lucknow gharana .A “TOP” grade performer of Doordarshan , Malabika has not only performed at national level but also hasdirected and choreographed Kathak Ballet for Doordarshan . Besides she is a dedicated teacher also . “KATHAK”is the mission of her life.