Tarika Nath began her artistic journey at the age of three under her mother, Guru Smt. Shiva Mathur. Growing up with Kathak, dholak, and tabla as equal parts of her training, she developed an early sensitivity to rhythm, musicality, and storytelling—an interdisciplinary foundation that continues to shape her work today. Her lineage is rooted firmly in the Lucknow Gharana through her mother and through her training at Kalashram, Delhi, under Padma Vibhushan Pt. Birju Maharaj and Vidushi Saswati Sen. She continues her talim with Saswati Didi, whose guidance remains central to Tarika’s artistic evolution.

Tarika’s work has been presented on prominent stages across Houston, including the Houston Barnstorm Dance Fest, where she debuted her original work Sampark. She was selected as a 2024 Dance Source Houston Artist-in-Residence and received the Youth Leadership Award from Disha USA for her contributions to civic engagement and the classical arts. In 2025, she will be the invited solo performer for the City Hall Diwali program presented by the Houston Mayor’s Office and the Consulate General of India—marking the first time Kathak is represented on this platform.

As both performer and educator, Tarika serves as Assistant Director at Shivangini Academy of Arts, where she teaches technique, mentors dancers, and continues her mother’s legacy of shaping strong, independent-thinking artists. Outside the studio, her career as a Certified Financial Planner informs her artistic life with structure, foresight, and a commitment to empowering women through financial literacy.

Tarika hopes to establish her own Kathak company creating full-length, tour-ready productions rooted in live percussion, improvisation, and interdisciplinary collaboration. This year, she is expanding Sampark and developing a full-length technical showcase with live tabla—continuing her pursuit of a Kathak practice that honors tradition while embracing innovation.