Nahid Siddiqui (born 1956) is an exponent of Kathak dance.
She has been a disciple of two great teachers: Maharaj Kathak (Pakistan) and Birju Maharaj (India). She has against all odds and challenges, spent decades of her life breathing hope, vitality, and exuberance to a dance form that has received very little state patronage and support. Through sheer perseverance, she has not only earned the reputation of a prolific artist but has also singlehandedly set a formidable standard of quality, a refined sensibility of aesthetics, and an intricate system of technical expertise that has received much acclaim all over the world. She is acknowledged for contributing her own style, technique, and expression (Gharana), which is imbued and informed by Islamic and Sufi aesthetics, sensibilities, and longing for ultimate union. Siddiqui is ever-evolving her craft as she performs at major venues, festivals, and television worldwide.
She has been the recipient of several awards, including Pakistan’s Pride of Performance, the UK’s British Cultural Award, and the International Dance Award.
Early life
Nahid was born in Rawalpindi, Pakistan in 1956. She is the eldest daughter of actor Talat Siddiqui and Mohammad Bashir Siddiqui. At the age of 3, she moved to Karachi with her parents. Her parents enrolled her in Happy Home School Karachi. In the late 1960s, she moved to Lahore with her parents and joined the University of Home Economics formerly known as Home Economics College.