Kathak..an art - Page 3

Originally posted by: Omshanti1111

Yeh, not only me but my whole family..my eight-old niece was also shocked to see today's dances. She is learning for two years now.
but anyways, I dont want to express anything more, but enjoy the show. iT sreally at its peak.

Can you pls post a pic of Gopi Kishanji...

I found a movie pic ... Sunil Shetty ... but I dunno if thats what you asked for?

Originally posted by: Omshanti1111

You are right..I dont want to start a comparison, but I was really disappointed and even closed my eyes after seeing some shoulder movements. They are not even close to what it should be. I hope the production house appointed a good choreographer to train both of them. They could have used Komolika Guhathakurta, who is playing Guruma to do that job. She is a great classical dancer.

totoally agree yaar👏

Originally posted by: Omshanti1111

I must say being a trained classical dancer, I was really hurt to see all wrong steps and movements in today's episode. Nothing, absolutely nothing I found correct in the dances of Parul or Sara. And I am pretty sure that if any of the viewers have a classical background in dance will agree to me.
Just wanted to share some information about the main dance art on which the Nritya Mahotsav is based upon...Kathak it is called...

This style from northern India has gained immense popularity today. It is known for its sparkling footwork, fast whirling movements and subtle abhinaya or mimetic dance. It almost never fails to capture the audience and this ability is probably because of its long history in the courts of emperor's and kings.

The word Kathak is derived from the name given to its practitioners 'Kathakars'. Katha meaning story and it's practitioners being those who told these stories. They told stories from the Ramayana, Mahabharata and other puranas. These practitioners were taught by temple priests who were well versed in dance and music.

The most well known guru and performer of the Kathak style today is Guru Birju Maharaj. His mastery of the style and efforts with which he spread its popularity all over the world make him unique in his field. He comes from a long lineage of dance guru's of Kathak and today his students are themselves good performers and teachers. The other famous gurus are the late Guru Durga Lal, (late)Guru Gopi Krishna, Sitara Devi, Guru Kumudini Lakhia and Uma Sharma.

Contemporary stage has quite a few stalwarts like Saswati Sen, Shovana Narayan, and Uma Dogra. In Bombay the established teachers and gurus are Sarang Sisters and Damayanti Joshi.

Bani Ji ...awesome post....for a lay person like me who has nothing to do with dance...I found their movements rather funny...but they are dancing for movie songs right? then how can this be a classical dance event...RS ji this show is one among the top shows in India and has a large viewership...I am sure there are many dancers in the audience...please respect their sentiments...

Originally posted by: agun

Bani Ji ...awesome post....for a lay person like me who has nothing to do with dance...I found their movements rather funny...but they are dancing for movie songs right? then how can this be a classical dance event...RS ji this show is one among the top shows in India and has a large viewership...I am sure there are many dancers in the audience...please respect their sentiments...

@bold: i agree their..they should take some classical songs

Originally posted by: Omshanti1111

Chakkar is the main thing in Kathak. Also when Panditji used to teach us, the first lesson we got was to use hand and eyes moving together . we used to be given example that as we write, out hand and eyes move together, same is the case in dance also...
it was really very disappointing...

i agree with you bani

Originally posted by: starplusfan777

Thank you fo such a lovely post! I am a trained dancer (15 years of Kathak) and was sorely dissapointed. I know that creative advantages need to be taken, for example, I think my guruji would have slapped me if I had said I wanted to perform on a film song, and with 3 days training dancing etc is a little bit too much, but still, at least they should show some nice graceful dancers yaar to essay these roles.

Well, at least one thing is proven, both Ragini and Sadhana are on the same level of dancing (even after Ragini's claimed trained dancer image), so if Sadhana wins, there is no reason for anyone to say, what the heck, how did she win. 😛

But really Bani, seeing those movements today, mera dil ekdum toot gaya ki these guys can make Kathak look so graceless.

Wow gr8 to see people whoz knows kathak😊

This is just a show guys. Why overreact??? These steps are taught by the choreographers, what is Parul/Sara's fault out here? They are just doing what they are taught.

May be we are judging them too early!They just showed their practice today right?May be they are being realistic and showing that it takes time lol.They will master it by tomorrow no doubt.I felt more than training they wanted to show Vasu pampering Ragini and Mamaji enquiring abt Sadhana as to where she was at that hour.

Originally posted by: starplusfan777

Thank you fo such a lovely post! I am a trained dancer (15 years of Kathak) and was sorely dissapointed. I know that creative advantages need to be taken, for example, I think my guruji would have slapped me if I had said I wanted to perform on a film song, and with 3 days training dancing etc is a little bit too much, but still, at least they should show some nice graceful dancers yaar to essay these roles.

Well, at least one thing is proven, both Ragini and Sadhana are on the same level of dancing (even after Ragini's claimed trained dancer image), so if Sadhana wins, there is no reason for anyone to say, what the heck, how did she win. 😛

But really Bani, seeing those movements today, mera dil ekdum toot gaya ki these guys can make Kathak look so graceless.

i expected the creatives to be training Sadhna in Kathak at least over six months so that the dance really comes out well...Or may be they did and they are not showing it and trying to save for the grand performance.