Classical Bandwidths

The ninth edition of the Shaniwar Wada Dance and Music Festival kicked off on January 30 at the Shaniwar Wada.

The three centuries old palace came alive with the sounds of music during the first day of the festival

The ninth edition of the Shaniwar Wada Dance and Music Festival kicked off on January 30 at the Shaniwar Wada. The two-day event was inaugurated by MP Suresh Kalmadi along with Minister of State for Home Ramesh Bagwe and actor Jackie Shroff. The Sonnet-Lumiere unfolded with a mesmerising display of Kathak dance showcased by a foreign dance troupe with virtuosic performer of classical Kathak tradition Chitresh Das. Later the audience witnessed an amalgamation of performances when Kathak maestro Chitresh Das teamed up with tap star Jason Samuel.

While music and dance lovers making headway to the premises of Peshwa is not something unusual but the increase in the young crowd seems to be a rising trend after recently concluded Sawai Gandharva festival in the city. Dhwani Sharma,an engineering student says,I was introduced to classical music two years back and since then I am attending this event and watching performances of stalwarts like Mallika Sarabhai and Chitresh Das. At the same time senior citizens also enjoyed the fusion of western and oriental forms of musi. Prassana Vaze a sexagenarian says,I came to watch the Fastest Feet and Rhythm performance of Chitresh Das and Jason Samuel and found myself awe-struck by the duo”.

Emphasising on supporting the event and popularising the traditional genres of arts actor Jackie Shroff points out,”We have decided to provide this platform to two young and vibrant dance troupes from the city in order to fortify their skills and confidence,that will come naturally after sharing the stage with pioneers of the field like Chitresh Das,Sambhvi Vaze and Parimal Phatke”.

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