Padma Shri Shovana Narayan: ‘Kathak is my breath, my five elements, my energy, and my soul’

Much like her guru Pandit Birju Maharaj, she too is famous for performing two distinctive roles of performer and guru with ease. Her capability to produce and direct international collaborative works has helped Kathak gain prominence in the global sphere.

Talking about her love for the dance form, Shovana Narayan tells indianexpress.com that Kathak is a fundamental component of her life, which cannot be parted with. “When I was two years old, I became acquainted with this classical dance style, and ever since, Kathak has played a significant role in my life. I cannot detach from it as it has become an intrinsic part of my identity,” she adds.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Shovana Narayan’s Asavari Centre for Kathak (@drshovananarayan) 

Calling Kathak her “life”, Shovana Narayan says that the dance form is “my breath, my five elements, my energy, and my soul.”

On being asked what she attributes her phenomenal success to, Shovana Narayan questions the definition of the term. “The world may view me as successful, but does that mean my journey is over? Success is sometimes viewed as being relative, but for me it is constantly seeking out and mastering new aspects of Kathak. My endeavour has been to discover fresh knowledge about the dance form every year, since my inception as a dancer,” she says.

According to the Kathak maestro, the dance form has evolved over time. “The foundation of life today is very distinct from what it was in the 1950s and 1960s. Kathak itself is a process of evolution and has changed over the years ever since it was first cited in the Prakrit inscriptions of the early Mauryan period (3rd century BC). How it is performed on stage has also changed. Earlier, solo performances were given more importance and their length also drastically differed. Nowadays, collective productions are given more attention. But despite the challenges of different periods, Kathak’s essence remains the same,” she says.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Shovana Traxl Narayan (@shovanatraxl) 

In the era of Covid-19, Shovana Narayan believes that social media and virtual meetings have allowed Kathak to reach students globally. Moreover, online performances have been effective in reaching out to larger audiences worldwide — compared to a traditional performance in an auditorium.

“Due to extensive use of social media, dance enthusiasts can now enjoy the taste and beauty of the dance form by watching performances online,” she says, adding that live performances have their own beauty and vigour.

At the same time, Shovana Narayan feels that Indian audiences now are more drawn to Western dancing styles. However, she says that these dance styles surge and flow, while the art, energy, and soul of traditional dance forms remain.

“While Western dance forms are gaining traction in India due to globalisation, both creative styles have a place of their own where they can coexist peacefully without competing with each other,” she says, adding that the younger generation is still pulled towards traditional dance styles as they offer inner calm, stability, and comfort.

Her disciple, Anupama Jha, recently presented her production, ‘Yajnaseni’, as an ode to her. Choreographed by Shovana Narayan herself, ‘Yajnaseni’ tells a tale of bravery, courage and strength through a Kathak musical embellished with pure rhythmic patterns in Hindustani classical and Sufi music genres, based on Amir Khusro’s verses. “The production focuses on women empowerment and is based on the life of Draupadi — the dance drama serves as a testament to the strength and perseverance of women,” Shovana Narayan explains.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Shovana Traxl Narayan (@shovanatraxl) 

Despite being a septuagenarian, Shovana Narayan manages to stay fit. Revealing the secret behind her ageing like fine wine, she highlights that people should place more attention on mental fitness than physical fitness as one is immediately physically healthy and driven if they are psychologically well.

‘Yajnaseni: Born out of Fire’ was staged at Kamani Auditorium, New Delhi on August 27, 2023, at 7 pm. 

📣 For more lifestyle news, follow us on Instagram | Twitter | Facebook and don’t miss out on the latest updates!