Dancing Memories

Sitara Devi and her daughter Jayantimala are in the city to be a part of a Kathak mahotsav called ‘Kathak Mahayagaya’. Organised by Lalit Kala Kendra,Gurukul,Pune University and Nandkishor Cultural Society,the event will see the mother-daughter duo conduct workshops and participate in the events. “When my elder sister,Alaknanda,had first started learning dance,muhalle mein tufaan aa gaya tha (the entire neighbourhood was scandalised). We were Brahmins and they feeling was that we were turning into vaishyas . But today,every house,city and country recognises kathak. When we started,it was considered wrong. There were no accolades or awards for mastering the art.” The duo belong to the 400-year-old tradition of the only Kathak dynasty in the Banares Gharana ,one that changed perceptions about the dance form. But the changes that came in are both good and bad. “Where are the gurus today? I think we severely lack correct guidance. This form of dance is a lot about emotions which need to be depicted correctly.”

Jayantimala,visibly concerned about her mother’s health,takes over the conversation. “She is a little unwell. Can’t talk much.” With her mother as her guru,Jayantimala considers the dance form a family inheritance,one that she wishes to protect and preserve. “I believe classical dance will never have an end. A lot of glamour may seep into dance and the arts,but their classical form will always flourish,” she says. The renowned solo performer has now also started presenting kathak recitals based on the sufi compilations of Sant Vithal.

The Kathak Mahayagya concluded on Saturday,which also saw Sitaradevi conducting a workshop at Nandkishor Sabhagruha,Nigdi.