Kathak performance in western classical ballet form to be held on May 19
Around the city — By The Desk on May 17, 2012 at 11:06 AM
Indian Express: As dance Academy Nad Roop completes 25 years, collaborations in Carnatic and Jazz music are on the cards.
On May 19, more than 60 Kathak dancers will present the traditional Kathak performance in a western classical ballet form even as beats of mrudunga and notes of veena unfold. Titled Kathak Infinite is just one of the experimental presentations that city based dance academy Nad Roop will showcase as its completes 25 years. Choreographed by Kathak exponent Shama Bhate, Kathak Infinite tries to hold on to the classicism while presenting it in a new format. The classical form – gestures, movements, gaits and pirouettes will be set on the notes of chamber and carnatic music. “We are using unique light effects to enhance classical Kathak. Noted musician Narendra Bhide has given music for the same,” explains Bhate. For an academy known for music experimentation , this is an opportunity to go a step higher. “We have always tried to experiment, but not fuse into other forms, in fact, we like to call it evolution,” says Shama Bhate as she talks about the academy’s earlier productions.
In the last 25 years, Nad Roop has presented several interesting collaborations. From the performance Naad Bindu, with dance choreographed to Sayed Haider Raza’s paintings to Nishabd Bhed to dance based on French documentarty, ‘Exploring Silence’, on marine lives and the lack of sound. Established by Bhate in 1987 to impart training in traditional Kathak dance, the academy has trained over 600 dance artists. It has to its credit over 50 productions each known for its uniqueness and style of presentation.
Also in the pipeline is ‘Confluence’ in November that involves Kathak choreography with live orchestra based on the life of Kasturba Gandhi. “The new format will see jazz music provided by an Austrian Band, Manfred Weinberger and the music will be based on ‘Peer Parayee Jane Re’. The band plays the trumpet and it will be incorporated in our performance,” says Bhate who feels that experimentation is imperative for art forms.
(‘Kathak Infinite’ will be held on May 19th at Ganesh Kala Kreeda Kendra at 6:30pm. Its tickets will be available at Bal Gandharva Rang Mandir and Yashwantrao Chavan Natyagruha from May 16th onwards and at the venue on May 18 and 19).
