This painting was in the making for a long time although it was executed on the canvas in just a few hours over 4-5 days. Its about a story teller, a dancer, a kathak dancer in particular that tells stories through movements and keeps a tradition that has been alive for thousand years.
I used oils and it is my favorite medium so far, I tried using acrylic in my last painting (three of us) but I wasn't very content. I like modulating strong brush strokes rather than building layers of dried pigment. Because acrylic dries so fast its a very narrow window to add anything to it once its on canvas. With this process I can deliberate and experiment and fix as I go without much elaborate planning.
I think subconsciously, I like the thought of going over past moments and perfecting them.
As with any artist, I wanted to fuss over the details but because I tend to get carried away, I stopped myself after a point just to step away and let it be.
Happy with the end product, I think it might be a series but don't hold your breath, lots on my plate still...
Flint Hills International Children’s Festival is this
weekend. It started on 28th May but the weekend filled with Family
activity starts Saturday Morning. And guess what, yup! I will be performing
Kathak with the rest of the Katha Dance Theater crew.
Sadhana is a Sanskrit word literally explained as "a means of accomplishing something".
It describes discipline and dedicated practice or learning, especially in the regions of rhythms and balance like music, dance, yoga, spiritual practice of any kind... etc.
In pursuits where mind and body need to play together.
It is no wonder that my Kathak guru Rita ji, chose 'Sadhana' as the name for the annual recitals for the Katha Dance school. And it is with pride and joy that I ask you to come watch the show this Sunday (19th May) at O'Shaughnessy
The show will feature a wide spectrum of dancers, from little ones to beginner adult dancers along with the veterans of the field presenting the sneak peeks of the upcoming Kathak show in Canada.
If you are looking for inspiration and enjoy listening to musical stories shared through dangling bells, rhythmic footwork and array of rich sparkling colors, it sure is something that cannot be missed.
And if you are a foodie, there is also going to be Indian snacks and hot tea available during the intermission.
Please stop by to say Hello! if you are at the show.
I am still reveling after the last night’s ‘The Concerts of
the Legends’ with Ustad Zakir Hussain and Pt. Birju Maharaj ji. It was a marvelous
show and the chemistry between Maharaj ji and Zakir bhai was amazing, nothing
like I have ever seen before.
Kathak Maestro, the living legend, seventh generation guru of kathak from the lucknow gharana (tradition), Pandit Birju Maharaj ji is in town and would be taking a week long workshop for the kathak enthusiasts, beginner as well as the advanced from all age groups and different walks of life.
The classes start tomorrow at the Ritz Theatre and I among many other KDT (Katha Dance Theatre) student are planning to be there to be able to experience and learn kathak right from one of its only remaining original sources.
I attended his workshop in 2009 during his previous visit to the twin cities and loved every bit of the wonderful experience. He not only teaches but composes music and choreographs steps as we go along, and as I saw last time if a certain step is too tough for younger or the lesser experienced students, he would just switch it up without holding it against the students. He is a very pleasant personality to be around.
These pictures were taken during the workshop in 2009 and its a sheer delight to watch the ultimate guru in action. I can wait to see him tomorrow...
Maharaj ji, composing music
Speaking to his pupils
Maharaj ji has handed over the gleaming torch of kathak legacy (Lucknow Gharana) to four of his best disciples and one of them is Saswati Sen or Saswati didi as we address her. She was maharaj ji's right hand when he was trying to teach the youngest of the group, I guess at 75+ age you need to delegate some of the responsibilities. Saswati didi is the gentlest of teacher and her mannerisms reminded me of my teachers in India, I loved her and I hope she has accompanied Maharaj ji in this tour as well.
Maharaj ji counting the beats on hand the traditional way
Teaching the mudras and the expressions
Besides the Kathak connection, I share roots with Maharaj ji as our previous generations possibly evolved from the same gene pool and had same cultural soil to prosper... Maharaj ji's tester years pictures look so much like uncle's (Dad's brother) and they might have resembled in older years too but my uncle passed away young so I can compare and say for sure.
Maharaj ji's mannerisms remind me so much of my Father -in -law who also belongs to Lucknow and there is a certain warmth even in the reprimands of the elderly of that region, that generation... As I said can't wait to see him and introduce my girls to him tomorrow.
That's me taking a picture and trying to be in the same frame as Maharaj ji
There is a live show 'Concerts of the Legends ' where Maharaj ji and the best percussionist of India, Ustad Zakir Hussain on Sunday, the 16th September at the O'shaughnessy theatre in St. Paul. A must see for anyone with a musical bone or of Indian origin. You don't need to have a degree in music or dance to appreciate your own roots. Look forward to soaking it all in....
Last Saturday I got the opportunity to perform my first Kathak Solo at a fundraiser event, ‘from Brahmaputra to Mississippi’. The proceeds would benefit women and children living much below poverty line in the northeastern state of India, Assam through providing support to two support groups; one that mainly deals with providing training and education to the weaver community by reviving the skills that were in practice for several centuries. The other organization helps through providing education and trying to prevent child labor, especially for young girls who are often shipped away to bigger cities to serve as household helps.
Before I share more about my dance experience, I want to digress from the topic a little bit. This opportunity to be able to perform a solo was a lucky break for me since I know I am not one of the best dancers that the school has and I am not saying that because I suffer from any low self-esteem but because I know where my practice stands and I am realistic. It took a lot of courage to except this opportunity and I gave it my best but that doesn’t take away from the fact that it came my way first and I played a secondary role in making it happen. I could have done everything I did and had the opportunity not presented itself, I couldn’t have turned it into anything. It’s a fact and I am driving at a point here… I know I am blessed; for things come my way sometimes even out of turn and I am forever thankful to the universe for making me feel special.
Sometime ago I wrote, ‘Is it possible to be so overwhelmed with the feeling of gratitude that one starts seeking validations for one’s own life…’ in my post Over giver. I guess, the feeling of being so blessed sometime does overwhelm me and wants me to share and give all that I can give, sometimes spreading myself too thin and I need to learn to find a balance but I am indebted and am trying to pay it forward. All that said, don’t think I never wished or dreamed for this opportunity to be able to perform solo.
I did wish that at the beginning of my teenage years standing at the back of the line being the tallest in the class, trying to deal with the awkwardness of my body’s transformations, and hiding it with a stiffness that wasn’t a trait of a dancer, wishing myself into a smaller self just so I could blend in… And I thought someday it would all pass…
But little did I know that it would lead me to something so beautiful as this, a stage just for myself where I wouldn’t have to shrink to fit in stand at the back to hide myself, in fact I can just be myself. This experience would make me more comfortable when I am performing with a group next time as well. It’s hard to imagine the kind of insecurities one can harbor and for so long.
As I was planning to prepare for the day, I did a dress rehearsal and had my daughter record it and I watched what I can do improve and emphasis. I just found out for sure two days before the actual performance so I didn’t get a chance to iron out all my flaws but I did my best within reason. I choose a cotton lehnga because it was so much more comfortable than the silk one and I was happy that I could choose to have my long hair in a braid… Luckily, yep yet again, one of my Kathak classmates was there for a singing performance and could help me with cumbersome pin tucks and eyeliners. Usually getting ready for the performance is my most favorite part but getting ready alone in a bathroom with low lights was not fun at all.
And the other wonderful thing that happened, actually it happened more than a decade ago, that’s my DH (darling husband) came to my rescue yet again and decided to stay for the performance. He is going through a very busy phase himself and our deal was that he’ll take the kids off my hands and take them home but instead he said, “how can I miss the opportunity to take your pictures when there is absolutely no one the stage that you can hide behind”. Hide I did, behind a snobbish and serious face while trying to concentrate on the footwork. I mouthed the ‘tihais’ to ground me and make sure I am not missing the beats and overall it went well. It was a technical piece so it’s tough to say if the audience understood it enough to critique or appreciate it but I am happy that there were no major fiasco and nobody left the auditorium while I was on stage.
I was hoping to keep my narrative for this post very short and focus on the pictures but I got carried away...
Last weekend, there was a show in town that was a conglomeration of Gospel Music, devotional Hindu songs, Muslim music and Sufi music along with the portrayal of spiritual wisdom through movements of Kathak dance.
The show was a combined effort of Rita Mustaphi and Robert Robinson and their respective teams. It was a show that would stand for the antithesis of what is making headlines in these chaotic times, a sort of island of peace, a respite from our intense focus on differences and embracing the common bond. Henry Wadsworth Longfellow quoted, “Music is the universal language of Mankind” and this show depicts the quote in a physical form for those who need something more tangible to grasp at while they travel to the intangible that runs through all of us.
Along with the Gospel music sung by Robert Robinson, these following songs/poetry (favorites) along with others were featured on the show.
Depiction of Durga, goddess of power killing the evil Mahisasur
Despite the soul wrenching music, my favorite piece was a tihai (technical kathak dance piece repeated in patterns of three)
It showed the search of human for the divine that is constantly in tune with us and present around and within us. I feel blessed to be able to see this piece first in classroom and then again on stage with the understanding of the interpretation.
If you get an opportunity to see this show don't miss it...
Sadhana, a dedicated practice.
It was the final dance recital this week and the year 2010-2011 for dance comes to a close.
I missed my most important and fun part of the recital, getting ready with my friends and chitchatting and laughing and crying. I underestimated the travelling time between my house and the performing stage and I also underestimated the time it would take me to tie my not so long hair anymore, into a bun. I think the precursor to this final rush was rooted in activities throughout the week. During the week I missed my beautician appointment, twice. I couldn’t sew the top that I needed for the show and ended up borrowing from a friend, that covered my muffin top very well but didn’t add anything much other than that. I ended up working overtime when I was planning to take time off from work. I ended up doing my make up in the car while my husband drove me to the performing destination and I ended up rushing to the stage for my first sequence without my ghunghroos (ankle bells).
But in the end it all worked out. I didn’t miss my performance; my sweet friends helped me with final touch ups while treating me like a princess and reprimanding me like a mother. I remembered to smile on the stage, at least part of the time and nobody was hurt in the process of the dramatic back-stage entry or thereafter. A bollywood chick flick kind of a deal :0)
DH was disappointed at the end of the show because my very first sequence was the one I was most excited about it and he missed part of it because of ticket mismanagement and for the other part the lens on the camera wasn’t right to capture good shots. Besides that was the only dance where I was towards the front of the stage and there was enough light to capture a good shot.
As I have been doing all weekend long while I talked to friends and family, at this point I should hand over the phone to DH so that he can explain how I was hiding in the back of the stage and he had a tough time trying to find the window between continuously moving dancers so that he can capture the moment for me. And it is well documented in the pictures as I cropped through many a limb and veils to present a decent picture of me. But like all dark clouds this one had a silver lining too, many of my friends and co dancers were captured in good light, thanks to my Darling Husband.
I would have a few opportunities to perform that particular number again so hopefully next time DH will be able to take good shots. As for me despite all the rush and panic, the performance was an enjoyable experience. The main highlights were the concern and love that my friends hold for me, I felt like the little sister that I never was and there were so many moments that almost brought me to tears, it feels wonderful to be loved and be encouraged and to belong. The other highlight was that I wore a dance jacket that belonged to my guru (Rita ji) many years ago. And it was quite an honor to dance next to some of the wonderfully talented dancers and not feel shortened by the height of their achievement.
I came across this note from July of 2009 and it perfectly sums up wisdom of some of the people that I am surrounded with. “To have the knowledge that I know better and I am going to prove you wrong is so negative. You actually know better when you can forgive another person for not knowing and say yeah, I know better”. My teacher and some of the senior dancers make me feel that way, like its okay to make mistakes and the confidence in me that I’ll learn.
And now after the hustle and bustle of planning and performing, I feel a vacuum that is often felt after the finals week at the end of the semester.
I feel so blessed each time I see my daughters. I feel honored that God chose me to nurture these individuals in early stages of their life and I already know these two are going to be two very remarkable personalities. And so when my girls look up to me and shower their adorations on me, I cannot but gush at my fortune. My girls pretending to go for a run, or pretend to do yoga in the living room, or just pretend to fast with me, it is just too sweet and too special a treat.
And although I enjoy it much I don't want them to have any false givings about my capabilities. I tell them when I need help and I sometimes share with them my fears. My older one is a realist and so she needs to see how irrelevant perfection is at times. Long story short, I was telling my girls about how I need a lot of practice for my upcoming recitals because I am not doing a good job. My daughters of course came back with a, 'No, Mamma you are the best' and 'You dance so well'. So I told them, that I need a lot of practice and then I can do justice to all that my teacher is entrusting me with.
My realist girl quickly asked me, 'so you think your heart is not in it?'
I had to maneuver carefully and I explained, I have lots on my plate and there are many others things in my life that need to be done, and they are my priority and so even though my heart is into dancing I can't devote as much time to it as I want. But that doesn't mean that I'll give up, I'll keep trying and eventually I'll get there but for now I'll just enjoy dancing even if its not perfect.
I saw a light bulb flicker in my girl's eyes, and she said, 'I think you are right Mamma, we should keep trying and no matter what you think I like how you dance'. This was a big concept for my 6 year old to grasp, she wants to be perfect at everything she does, even if its the first time she does it.
And now that we are on the topic of my upcoming dance recital, I need to mention that I am recruited for three sequence. Usually I don't sign up for anything more than one but this time, I just didn't say no. Not yet.
One of the dance is a pure technique dance that I have learned throughout the year, the other one is a special story telling dance that Pt. Birju Maharaj ji specially composed for our dance school and also one of the very first ones that I started to learn seven years ago but never finished. So I am gonna finish it this time.
The third and the opening number is the one that I am honored to be performing. It is a fusion number of India's national song 'Vande Matram' and Guru Rabindranath Tagore's poem 'Where the mind is without Fear'. This year is the 150th birth anniversary of Indian Nobel Laureate and our school will pay respect through this performance. Now you know, why I am so nervous about not doing justice to the whole sequence. This was also my first time experiencing my teachers' choreography process and I feel very close to her just to be able to watch her go through iterations and create the perfect magic.
Sole to soul is a fusion show that was created and presented by my dance school (Art Director: Rita Mustaphi) along with the composer/singer Robert Robinson. It was a unique combination of culture and emotions and proved that art knows no boundaries. The soft flow of jazz music combined with graceful movements and strong footwork took the audience into uncharted territories.
I attended the show with a friend and following are the pictures that we took, she forgot her camera and so ended up using mine and with the hundreds of shots we each took it was tough to draw a line where she stopped and I continued.
