Learn the history behind Indian Classical Dances

Shambhavi Dandekar Swarada Performing Arts & Research Centre Indian Classical Dances is presenting Nritya Bodha, Dance & Cultural Academic Lecture Series on Indian Classical Dances on two weekends beginning from May 22. In all, there will be four lectures in May 9 series. The guests include Kathak dancer Shambhavi Dandekar, Kuchipudi dancer Sindhuja, Odissi dancer Rasika Gumaste and Chhau dancer Rakesh Sai Babu. Participation is open to those above 14 years, who are interested to learn and get detailed knowledge about Dance, History and Literature. Certificate will be provided to participants attending the concerned lecture. The fee for each lecture is Rs. 300. Last date for registration is May 21. For details write to sparcpune@gmail.com or call Swarada Dhekane 9552731837 / 9657896051.

The event will start with a presentation by Kathak dancer Shambhavi Dandekar on the ‘Aesthetic Spectrum in a Taal Presentation’ on May 22 at 8.30 pm IST. Shambhavi started her training under her mother and renowned Guru, Pandita Maneesha Sathe. She also received intense training in rhythm under Tabla Guru, Pandit Suresh Talwalkar. Shambhavi, who is a Commerce graduate, has two Masters in Dance, and Diplomas in French and Sanskrit languages. The Kathak exponent has performed in many reputed dance festivals in India and abroad. She is also a member of International Dance Council of UNESCO and a recipient of several Indian awards and scholarship from Indian ministry of culture.

With over three decades of experience, Shambhavi runs SISK from Pune and San Francisco Bay Area.

On May 23, the second lecture in the series will be by Kuchipudi dancer Sindhuja, on ‘Kuchipudi: History and Repertoire’ from 6 pm to 8 pm IST. Sindhuja is a passionate practitioner of dance with dedicated and disciplined approach towards the art form. With Masters degree in both Kuchipudi and Carnatic music, she is presently pursuing her doctoral research on dance from University of Hyderabad with a scholarship from UGC. She has published articles and papers and talks on dance at various platforms.  

A once practicing architect, she chose to pursue her career in Performing Arts. Though initially she started learning Bharatanatyam, she found Kuchipudi her calling and continues to approach the subtleties of dance delving deeper both into the historical aspects and the diverse movement vocabularies. Founder of Sinjini School of Arts, she imparts training both in Kuchipudi dance and Carnatic Vocal.

The following week-end, 29 May, Odissi dancer Rasika Gumaste will present a talk on ‘Odrakala – The Connect Between Dance and Sculpture in Odisha’ from 6 pm to 8 pm. After completing her Diploma in Bharatanatyam from SNDT College Pune, followed by post-Diploma from the Nrityangan Institute Pune under the able guidance of Smt. Manik Tai Ambike. She has also taken basic training in Contemporary Dance under Gauri Vanarse. She started taking training in Odissi under the guidance of Kathak and Odissi dancer Yogini Gandhi for six years. She has occasionally learnt from Guru Stuti Sahu. She has also attended several workshops by esteemed Odissi Gurus.

Founder of Akanksha Odissi Nrityalaya in Pune, Rasika trains students passionate about dance.

The lecture series will culminate with Chhau dancer Rakesh Sai Babu’s lecture on ‘The Beauty of Chhau Dance’ on May 30 from 9 pm – 11 pm. Rakesh Sai Babu is a Mayurbhanj Chhau Dancer based in New Delhi. Rakesh is the recipient of the Ustad Bismillah Khan Yuva Puraskar in the field of Chhau dance given by Sangeet Natak Academy in the year 2018-19. Born to a Royal family of renowned Mayurbhanj Chhau dancers, he had the privilege to learn the art from his father, a renowned Sangeet Natak Academy Awardee, Guru Janmejoy Sai Babu. Rakesh has been performing at several dance festivals and shows across India and abroad. An empanelled dancer with ICCR, Rakesh Sai Babu teaches dance at his institute Trikayaa Dance Company in Delhi’s Vasant Kunj.