2ND INTERNATIONAL Kathak Festival in Chicago
Anila Sinha Foundation (ASF), a not-for-profit organization established in 1998 and incorporated in 1999 in memory of Mrs. Anila Sinha, an accomplished Kathak dancer, will celebrate its tenth anniversary with a landmark event – the 2nd International Kathak Festival.
The three-day event from October 23- 25 will be presented in collaboration with The International House, University of Chicago, at 1414 59th St., Chicago packed with morning conferences, afternoon workshops and lecture demonstrations and evening performances by a host of world renowned artists.
Artists and scholars from India, U.K. and Canada will join dancers, musicians, choreographers, critics and others in sessions about history, evolution, techniques and future of Kathak. The morning session will include scholars such as Dr. Sunil Kothari from Delhi, Dr. Purnima Shah from Duke University, NC, Dr. Mekhala Natavar from Princeton University, Dr. Joan Erdman from Columbia Collage Chicago, Dr. Sarah Morelli from Denver Colorado, Dr. Pallabi Chakravarti from Swarthmore College, Pennsylvania and Smt. Leela Venkataraman from Delhi. In addition, senior artists like Pandit Birju Maharaj, Smt. Kumudini Lakhia, Pandit Chitresh Das, Shri Jayant Kastuar from Sangeet Natak Academy and Smt. Hema Rajgopalan will take part in the discussions.
Aham Brahmasmi group.
Workshops by Pandit Birju Maharaj (Oct 23), Smt. Kumudini Lakhia (Oct 24) and lecture demonstration by Pandit Chitresh Das (Oct 25) will be the highlights of the afternoon sessions. In addition there will be performances by various groups of Kathak dancers from United States and abroad. Concerts each evening will feature many outstanding dancers and choreographers including Pandit Birju Maharaj, Smt. Kumudini Lakhia, Pandit Chitresh Das, Smt. Sunayana Hazarilal, Smt. Uma Dogra and others. The purpose of the festival is to educate the younger generation of students, artists and community at large about the diversity and excellence of Kathak as a dance form, also it is to establish the highest expression of Kathak performance as a template in the minds and hearts of the younger generation of dancers and students. It is a rare opportunity for the community at large in Chicago to see world-renowned scholars and artists under one roof.
The mission of the Foundation is to preserve, promote and present the classical dance of North India mainly Kathak dance and music. In keeping with it, ASF has established an academy of Kathak dance affiliated with Prayag Sangit Samiti in Allahabad, India.
The teacher and the Artistic Director of the Academy is currently Ms Kiran Chouhan, a professional artist who is a senior disciple of Pandit Birju Maharaj. She has given numerous performances and conducted workshops along with her guru throughout the globe
In addition ASF has presented several main stage performances each year and invited world-renowned artists such as Pandit Birju Maharaj, Smt. Girija Devi, Pandit Ram Narayan, Ustad Zakir Hussian and others. During the past few years ASF has presented several unique productions such as “Sufi Kathak”, “Kumar Sambhav”, Raj Nartaki” based on innovative choreography by Ms Kiran Chouhan. In 2004 ASF organized the first International Kathak Festival, which was a great success. Because of the encouraging response in 2004, ASF has decided to organize the 2nd International Kathak Festival this year thus providing a great opportunity for the younger generation of Kathak artists and students.
This program is supported in part by the Illinois Arts Council and National Endowment for the arts.
[ BY RITU PANDEY ]
