Narthaki Nataraj is an Indian transwoman Bharatanatyam dancer who runs the Vellyambalam School of Dance in Chennai. She was awarded the Padma Shri in 2019, making her the first transgender woman to be awarded India’s fourth-highest civilian award. She specializes in the Thanjavar-based Nayaka Bhava tradition and has become a known face associated with this dance form in India and abroad. She’s also a transgender activist, working for the upliftment of the community and being a beacon of inspiration for not just them but all of us.