Maya Rao (2 May 1928 - 1 September 2014) was an Indian classical dancer, choreographer and educator in Kathak dance. She is known for her work in Kathak choreography, especially in dance ballets, and was thought for bringing Kathak, a North Indian-dance style to South India, when she opened her dance school, Natya Institute of Kathak and Choreography (NIKC) in Malleswaram, Bangalore in 1987. She was also the founder director of her dance company, "Natya and Stem Dance Kampani" based in Bangalore.