The name M.L.Koser is a name to reckon with in the realm of art. He is not only a great exponent of Indian dance but is also a brilliant scholar of classical literature.
Koser is a recipient of many awards and honours which he earned in recognition of his glorious performances and making admirable contribution in the field of music and dance. At the young age of 21, he was awarded the title of "DWITYA TANDAV", a rare distinction from Manipur, the traditional home of Indian Classical dances.
Born in an affluent family in Lahore, Koser's initiation into dancing began at the tender age of 6 under Guru Sudhakar. The first passion with this young dancer was to learn the classical dance forms at their places of origin. With this objective he spent considerable time at the feet of the great famous Guru Uday Shankar and Guru Namudri Pad at Almora. He also learnt the various techniques of Kathak in Lucknow under the able guidance of the master exponents. He even went to Manipur to master the techniques of Manipuri dancing and learnt dance from the legendary dancer Guru Ambui Singh.
Equipped with such a wonderful theoretical and practical knowledge of Indian classical dances in its various facets, Koser then joined a Maharastrian Dancing troupe and toured practically the whole of India giving performances one after another. This paved the necessary ground and provided Koser a fine opportunity to observe, study and practice the folk and traditional dance forms prevalent in the various parts of the country as also enabled him to assimilate finer points of Kathak and Bharatnatyam.
At the age of 20, Koser formed his own dancing troupe. He made his debut by staging memorable and electrifying ballet based on Pandit Nehru's "Discovery of India" which brought him a marked approbation as a great artist from one and all. Encouraged by this tremendous success, Koser prepared numerous ballets, one after another, touching upon the then burning topics of the country. The special techniques and the novel style with which these were composed and the astonishing mastery with which ballets were executed on the stage, brought him further name and fame so much so the King Ethopia, who was witnessing it, congratulated Koser, presented him a gold medal and extended an invitation to visit his country. The other memorable ballets staged by Koser were "Indo-Pak Conflict", "India's Peace role in Korea", "Unification of India", "Nawakhali Episode" and "Bhakra Nangal". Koser got the unique opportunity of performing on a number of occasions before the home and foreign high dignitaries. His performances were witnessed amongst others by late Dr. Rajendra Prasad, Late Dr. Radha Krishan, Late Jawahar Lal Nehru, former President, Vice-President and Prime Minister of India respectively and by many Governors and Chief ministers of various states. They were all widely acclaimed and took the popularity of Koser to dizzy heights. M.L.Koser was honoured with the President's Awards twice for presenting inspiring programmes draped with novelty and creativity with perfect professional competence revealing newer shades of classical dancing art. Koser is indeed an artist with exceptional intelligence and endowed with arresting stage presence. His mind and indefatigable energy in powerful combination resulted in the birth of Pracheen Kala Kendra, an institution which was set up in the year 1956 with the active support and kind patronage of the then Honourable Governor of Punjab Shri C.P.N. Singh. This institution aims at preserving and promoting the traditional music, dance and fine arts in their technical perfection and classical excellence on sound and scientific lines. It is highly creditable that this institution has grown up with this city beautiful and is now the oldest and the most firmly established body of its kind in the country having over 3500 affiliated centers in India and abroad with more than 2 lac students studying and preparing themselves for various grade of professional courses conducted by it every year. It would be conceded that his achievements in the myriad fields of dance and music have secured for him a lofty place in the gallaxy of world's foremost exponents, originators, organizers and true propagators of the musical arts.
Shobha made her debut as a full fledged performer at the age of 15. Since then she has performed at countless prestigious Music Conferences and Sangeet Sammelans both in India and abroad. She has an arresting stage presence and a natural grace, which cannot be taught but is fundamental in an artist. She dances with that rare felicity of movement and grace that her recital becomes a poem. The mind and heart conjugate the rhythm giving her dance an intensity and a dramatic pulsation. Each movement of hers speaks a phrase, each attitude paints a situation, every gesture unfolds a thought and the brilliance of her look announces a new sentiment.
She is truly a prodigy of her art, her mastery of every aspects of Jaipur Gharana of Kathak in executing all its finer intricacies on the stage such as Taalas, Gats, Toras, Tukras, Paran, and Chakardhar Paran, Lyrical movements and portrayal of emotions through 'Bhava' are her forte. At one moment she appears to float as delicately as on the wings of a soft spring wind, at another she whirls with astonishing verve and vigour.
Shobha Koser, however, credits her achievement of Kathak to her Guru Kanhiya Lal, a worthy disciple of Nrityacharya Guru Narayan Prasad, and for the perfection of subtle intricacies of Kathak to Late Guru Kundan Lal, the foremost exponent of Jaipur Gharana and for the rigid disciplined training to her husband, Madan Lal Koser .
As a child of five, Guru Kanhiya Lal took Shobha to train her in Kathak. She was under his care for 10 long years and acquired mastery of form and technique. Later she came in contact with Guru Kundan Lal Gangani, a disciple of Guru Narayan Prasad of Jaipur Gharana. He was known as one of the best, leading most exponents of this Gharana. Shobha learnt from him the subtleties and finer intricacies of this Gharana. He let her to discover new styles in Kathak which have largely added to the native charm of this style.
The name M.L.Koser is a name to reckon with in the realm of art. He is not only a great exponent of Indian dance but is also a brilliant scholar of classical literature.
Koser is a recipient of many awards and honours which he earned in recognition of his glorious performances and making admirable contribution in the field of music and dance. At the young age of 21, he was awarded the title of "DWITYA TANDAV", a rare distinction from Manipur, the traditional home of Indian Classical dances. 
Shobha made her debut as a full fledged performer at the age of 15. Since then she has performed at countless prestigious Music Conferences and Sangeet Sammelans both in India and abroad. She has an arresting stage presence and a natural grace, which cannot be taught but is fundamental in an artist. She dances with that rare felicity of movement and grace that her recital becomes a poem. The mind and heart conjugate the rhythm giving her dance an intensity and a dramatic pulsation. Each movement of hers speaks a phrase, each attitude paints a situation, every gesture unfolds a thought and the brilliance of her look announces a new sentiment.
She is truly a prodigy of her art, her mastery of every aspects of Jaipur Gharana of Kathak in executing all its finer intricacies on the stage such as Taalas, Gats, Toras, Tukras, Paran, and Chakardhar Paran, Lyrical movements and portrayal of emotions through 'Bhava' are her forte. At one moment she appears to float as delicately as on the wings of a soft spring wind, at another she whirls with astonishing verve and vigour. 
