K A T H A K K E N D R A [NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF KATHAK DANCE] ANNUAL REPORT 2020 - 2021 KATHAK KENDRA, NEW DELHI [NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF KATHAK DANCE] Annual Report of the Programme Section 01st April, 2020 till 31st March 2021 Dance and Music is the ultimate celebration. It is a way of celebrating our past experiences and it is always pushing us to new levels of experience. Every generation of Indians can relate to the magic of classical Indian dance and music as a fresh new connection to life. Due to the worldwide pandemic, COVID 2019, the working of the Kathak Kendra, New Delhi has been a bit different from every other year in the past. Instead of closing down its operations making the pandemic an excuse, Kathak Kendra on the contrary celebrated even more and tried new mediums keeping in mind the safety measures and adhering to the COVID 2019 guidelines. Kathak Kendra kept a very busy schedule this year reaching out to more and more people through various online mediums. While on one hand it presented performances and workshops by many esteemed and established artists, on the other it also gave opportunities to many young and upcoming artists, making it a point to support them during their formative years. The Kathak Kendra presented online Kathak training sessions, sharing of personal experiences through lec-dems, presentations of Kathak archives etc. through various online platforms and were also premiered live on the facebook page of Sangeet Natak Akademi. Many concerts were organised in the Swami Vivekanand Auditorium where hundreds of artists have participated (adhering to the COVID19 guidelines) and given their presentations. Finally this year ended with a week-long Holi celebration marking the 75 years of Indian Independence with the festival Swadheenta ke Rang, Phalgun ke Sang. The festival showcased a varied presentation of Kathak dance and classical music with artists from all corners of India. The efforts of Kathak Kendra during this difficult year of pandemic has been very successful and has been appreciated hugely by its viewers. PROGRAMMES HELD DURING THE YEAR DIKSHA ONLINE SERIES Live training sessions under the Sangeet Natak Akademi’s Diksha Series were taken by trained and established artists under the direction of esteemed Gurus. This was presented online for the worldwide Kathak rasikas, artists and general audience. DIKSHA ONLINE SERIES | 26TH – 29TH MAY, 2020 | GURU RAJENDRA GANGANI 26th – 29th May, 2020 | Morning 10:00 - 11:30 A. M. | Evening 3:30 - 4:30 P. M.: Kathak Kendra’s Senior Guru, Shri Rajendra Gangani took a Kathak workshop in the Meghdoot Auditorium, SNA. He was assisted by his former senior disciples Sushri Swati Sinha and Sushri Vidyagauri Adkar. He was accompanied by Shri Yogesh Gangani on Tabla, Shri Ayub Khan on Sarangi and Shri Samiullah Khan on vocals. DIKSHA ONLINE SERIES | 27TH – 31ST JULY, 2020 | GURU MALTI SHYAM 27th – 31st July, 2020 | Afternoon 2:00 - 5:00 P. M.: Kathak Kendra’s Senior Guru, Smt. Malti Shyam took a Kathak workshop in the Swami Vivekanand Auditorium, SNA. She was assisted by the Kathak Kendra repertory artists Sushri Jaya Bhatt and Sushri Ridhima Bagga. She was accompanied by Shri Naushad Ahmed on Tabla, Shri Saeed Ur Rehman and Shri Samiullah Khan on Vocals. ANTARANG SERIES The Antarang series was started by the Kathak Kendra for senior and esteemed artists to share their journey and memoirs with the upcoming artists and general audience in turn inspiring them. This was presented live on the facebook page of Sangeet Natak Akademi. ANTARANG | 14TH JULY, 2020 | SMT. RAJSHRI SHIRKE As a part of the Antarang series Smt. Rajshri Shirke, Mumbai shared the incredible memoirs of her artistic journey. This was presented live on the facebook page of Sangeet Natak Akademi. SWADHEENTA SAMAROH | 25TH | 26TH AUGUST 2020 On the proud occasion of India’s completion of 73 years of Independence, Kathak Kendra organized Swadheenta Samaroh. A special program Vande Mataram was organized during the Swadheenta Samaroh, which was live on both 25th and 26th August from 11:30 in the morning from the Vivekanand Auditorium. All the artists of Kathak Kendra including Dancers, Tabla players, Pakhawaj players, Sarangi players, Shehnai players and Vocalists participated in the Swadheenta Samaroh. This online program was watched all over the world and was much appreciated. PROGRAMME 25TH AUGUST 2020 1. Vande Mataram Senior Musicians of Kathak Kendra Music composed by: Guru Ravishankar Upadhyay | Guru Rakesh Kumar Pathak Dance choreographed by: Guru Rajendra Kumar Gangani 2. Jyotirgamaya Students of Kathak Kendra Directed by: Guru Samiksha Sharma 3. Dance choreography Kathak Kendra Repertory Directed by Guru Jaikishan Maharaj 26TH AUGUST 2020 1. Bandishi Thumri Students of Kathak Kendra Directed by: Guru Malti Shyam 2. Vande Mataram Senior Musicians of Kathak Kendra | Kathak Kendra Repertory Members Directed by: Guru Jaikishan Maharaj Shri Ghulam Mohammed Sarangi 7TH SEPTEMBER 2020 TAAL VINOD Shri Yogesh Gangani Tabla Accompanists Shri Samiullah Khan Vocals Shri Ayub Khan Sarangi 8TH SEPTEMBER 2020 SWAR VINOD Shri Santosh Kumar Sinha Vocals Accompanists Shri Shakeel Ahmed Tabla Shri Ghanshyam Sisodia Sarangi 9TH SEPTEMBER 2020 KAVIT | PADHANT By Sangeet Natak Akademi Awardee and Senior Kathak Exponent Vidushi Manjushree Chatterjee 10TH SEPTEMBER 2020 TATTA VADYA VINOD Shri Ghanshyam Sisodia Sarangi Accompanists Shri Akhilesh Bhatt Tabla ANTARANG | 16TH SEPTEMBER, 2020 | DR. PURU DADHEECH Under the web based lec-dem series Antarang by Sangeet Natak Akademi, the noted Kathak exponent, poet and author Dr. Puru Dadheech shared his artistic journey and anecdotes from it on the 16th September, 2020. This was presented live on the facebook page of Sangeet Natak Akademi. HINDI PARV | 16TH – 30TH SEPTEMBER 2020 Hindi Parv was organized in Kathak Kendra from 16th – 30th September 2020 where various competitions were held and the Gurus, Teachers and Staff of Kathak Kendra also took part. A Sangeet Sabha was held from 21st – 30th September 2020 in the Sawmi Vivekanand Auditorium which was broadcasted live on facebook. KATHAK KAHE RAMAYAN | 31ST OCTOBER – 4TH NOVEMBER 2020 Kathak Kendra organized a production called Kathak Kahe Ramayan (to mark the birth anniversary of Adikavi Balmiki on the 31st October 2020) from 2:00 P.M. at the Swami Vivekananda Auditorium. It was presented live on the Facebook page of Sangeet Natak Akademi. PROGRAMME BASED UPON SHRIMAD VALMIKIYA RAMAYAN KATHAK KAHE RAMAYAN (On the occasion of the Birth Anniversary of Maharishi Vakmiki) 31st October – 4th November 2020 | 2:00 P. M. onwards Swami Vivekanand Auditorium 31ST OCTOBER 2020 Sita Swayamvar Guest Performance, Kathakali International Center Panchavati Choreographed by: Shri Abhimanyu Lal Sundar Kaand: Pratham Khand Kathak Kendra Repertory Presentation 1ST NOVEMBER 2020 Ayodhya Prasang Choreographed by: Shri Ashok Chakraborty Sundar Kaand: Dwitiya Khand Kathak Kendra Repertory Presentation 2ND NOVEMBER 2020 Kewat Prasang Choreographed by: Shri Subhash Bhattacharya Sundar Kaand: Tritiya Khand Kathak Kendra Repertory Presentation 3RD NOVEMBER 2020 Kathak Nritya Smt. Swati Sinha, Delhi Aam Aham Mayavi Choreographed by: Smt. Samiksha Sharma Sundar Kaand: Chaturth Khand Kathak Kendra Repertory Presentation Duet Students of the Kathak Kendra Choreographed by: Shri Ashok Chakraborty Solo Preeti Sharma Darbar-e-Salaami Kathak Kendra Repertory presentation Choreographed by: Guru Jaikishan Maharaj Solo Madhavi Mudgal – Odissi (Guest performance) ANTARANG | 19TH JANUARY, 2021 | SMT. SHOVANA NARAYAN As a part of the Antarang series, senior Kathak exponent Smt. Shobha Koser shared unforgettable memories of her artistic journey. This was presented live on the facebook page of Sangeet Natak Akademi. REPUBLIC DAY CELEBRATION SANGEET SABHA | 29TH – 30 JANUARY 2021 Republic Day Celebration Sangeet Sabha was organized in the Swami Vivekanand Auditorium on the 29th and 30th January 2021. Esteemed artists from the dance fraternity were invited to perform during this programme. Apart from this the students of the Kathak Kendra performed under the guidance of the Gurus | trainers of the Kendra. The Kathak Kendra repertory also presented a choreography by Smt. Geetanjali Lal. PROGRAMME REPUBLIC DAY SANGEET SABHA 29th – 30th January 2021 | 2:00 P.M. Onwards Swami Vivekanand Auditorium 29TH JANUARY 2021 Umang Students of Kathak Kendra Choreographed by: Shri Subhash Chakraborty Bhavatu Bharatam Students of Kathak Kendra Choreographed by: Guru Samiksha Sharma Basant Bahar Students of Kathak Kendra Choreographed by: Guru Malti Shyam Kathak Solo Abhay Maharaj Kathak Solo Shikha Khare Gana Utsav Students of Kathak Kendra Choreographed by: Guru Rajendra Gangani Kathak Solo (Bhav) Ranjana Srivastava Andaaz-e-Ghalib Kathak Kendra Repertory presentation Bayan-e-Tasavoor Mosiki Trirang Taal 30TH JANUARY 2021 Tridhara Students of Kathak Kendra Choreographed by: Shri Subhash Bhattacharya Ullas Students of Kathak Kendra Choreographed by: Shri Abhimanyu Lal Kathak Solo Deepti Gupta Kathak Solo Jyotsna Banerjee Rashtriya Rang Students of Kathak Kendra Choreographed by: Guru Jaikishan Maharaj Samvidhaan Students of Kathak Kendra Choreographed by: Smt. Geetanjali Lal Odissi Solo (Guest Performance) Sushri Kavita Dwibedi PROGRAMME VASANTOTSAV SANGEET SABHA 28th February – 3rd March 2021 | 2:00 P.M. Onwards Swami Vivekanand Auditorium 28TH FEBRUARY 2021 Naval Students of Kathak Kendra Choreographed by: Shri Abhimanyu Lal Pallavi Sanskriti Foundation, Delhi presentation