Kathak Dance Festival
Kathak Festival will present several fine dance performances by some of the leading artists featuring Kathak style. Kathak, the dance style from north India has the charm and subtlety associated with miniature paintings. Nurtured in the holy precincts of the Hindu temples Kathak was further enhanced with Persian influence during the Mogul reign in India. Over the centuries, it has attained refinement and enriched itself by the establishment of distinct styles and gharanas.
Prashant Shah is one of the most promising male Kathak dancers of India. Since last two decades, Prashant has been training under the tutelage of Padmashree Kumudini Lakhia, a world renowned Kathak exponent, Choreographer and founder of the Kadamb Centre for Dance and Music in Ahmedabad, India. Prashant’s virtuosity in Kathak technique, especially ‘takkaar’ (rhythmic footwork) and ‘chakkar’ (pirouettes) and his excellent understanding of ‘taal’ and ‘laya’ (rhythm and meter respectively) make him a versatile dancer and enable him to perform a vast repertoire with masculine grace without flowery affectations. Prashant has toured extensively in India and other countries like USSR, UK, USA, France, Holland, Brazil, Italy, Switzerland, China, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh and others as a solo dance artist as well as a leading dancer of Kadamb performing unit. He has also been part of various dance compositions choreographed by Sitar maestro Pandit Ravi Shankar and Pandit Birju Maharaj. Few of the prestigious organizations based in India like Kathak Kendra, New Delhi, Indian Council for Cultural Relations and Sangeet Natak Akademi, New Delhi has also invited Prashant to perform in their prestigious festivals. Prashant’s ‘Independence’ -dance production with Nina Rajarani (Bharata Natyam dancer based in UK) , ‘Kathak Pravas’-dance production with Kelly Verma (Kathak dancer based in Holland) and ‘Anokha’ -a joint production of Hip-Hop, Bharata Natyam and Kathak with Kader Attou (Hip Hop dancer- choreographer based in France) are some of the productions which have been successfully performed, toured and critically acclaimed extensively in India and Europe.
A rare combination of talent, intellect and beauty, Yogini Gandhi is amongst the very few dancers who perform two Indian classical dance styles – Kathak & Odissi with equal dexterity and virtuosity. She has received guidance from India’s legendary dance maestros Pt. Birju Maharaj and Guru Kelucharan Mohapatra. Yogini has performed at some of the most prestigious festivals in India like the Sawai Gandharva Mahotsav, Ellora Festival, Kathak Kendra Mahotsav etc. Through the years her performances have received critical acclaim as also appreciation from audiences in India and abroad. She has presented dance concerts and lecture demonstrations in the USA, Australia, Sweden, Denmark etc. Yogini has a unique command over both the rhythmic as well as emotive aspects of dance. A noteworthy feature of her exposition is that she creates an instant rapport with the audience through her articulate oratory. This has also resulted in Yogini becoming a much sought after compere. She has been bestowed with a number of awards and honors to name a few The Rotary Vocational Excellence award, The Shingaar Mani, Outstanding Young Person Award. She is also empanelled with the I.C.C.R. Indian Council for Cultural Relations, A Govt. of India organization in New Delhi and Member of the International Dance Council – UNESCO To share her love and joy of dance, Yogini established ‘Kalanidhi’ an institute where she imparts training in Kathak & Odissi. She is also a visiting faculty at the Centre of Performing Arts, Pune University.