In the beautiful city of Thiruvananthapuram, takes place, one of India’s grandest
dance festivals, that is, Nishagandhi Dance Festival. This year the festival took place
from 15th February 24 to 21st February,24. Kathak Kendra’s repertory performed in this
festival on the 15th of February. The repertory, with a team of 7 dancers and 4
musicians presented 6 choreographic pieces, choreographed by Guru Krishna Mohan
Mishra and Guru Rani Khanum. The team of dancers comprised of Mukesh Gangani,
Mohit Shridhar, Sunny Sisodiya, Krupa Tendulkar, Minu Garu, Priyanka Kapil and Sujata
Gawde. They were accompanied by a team of musicians, Shri Shahbaz Khan on
Tabla, Shri Vijay Parihar on Vocal, Shri Anil Mishra on Sarangi and Shri Fateh Ali Khan
on Sitar.
The performance begins with Mukesh Gangani’s solo performance, titled “Kasturi
Tilakam”, choreographed by Guru Krishna Mohan Maharaj. Following this, came a
group composition called “Jaaki Mahima”, and it was presented by Mukesh Gangani,
Mohit Shridhar, Minu Garu, Sujata Gawade, Priyanka Kapil and Krupa Tendulkar. The
next piece presented was choreographed by Guru Rani Khanum, “Naachata Sudanga”,
and was beautifully decorated by all the 7 artists on the stage. “Re...Mann”, choreographed
by Guru Krishna Mohan Maharaj ji, was then brought out aesthetically by the four
female artists, Minu Garu, Priyanka Kapil, Sujata Gawde and Krupa Tendulkar. The
evening then saw the emergence of a traditional and very famous episode from the
mythology, the tale of “Kaliya Daman”, where the playful Krishna was portrayed by
Mukesh Gangani and the devil, Kaliya was put up by Sunny Sisodia, beautifully
supported by Minu Garu, Mohit Shridhar, Krupa Tendulkar and Priyanka Kapil. The
Kathak Kendra Repertory concluded their performance with the composition of Holi, a
very upcoming and celebratory festival, with which the dancers and the musicians
signed off the stage with the soul of colours, celebrations and joy.
Comments