Ninth Shaniwarwada Festival

Will be held on January 30 and 31, and will be inaugurated on Saturday, January 30, 6:30 pm.

THE NINTH Shaniwarwada Dance and Music Festival would glorify

the incandescent spirit of art. It thus would efface all barriers that

have hitherto been put up under the pretext of colour, religion,

creed and nationality, for music and dance forms from diverse lands

would bask upon one stage. The festival will be inaugurated by MP

Suresh Kalmadi on Saturday in Pune.

The opening programme on January 30 would be followed by Fastest Feet and Rhythm, put together by Kathak doyen Pt Chitresh Das and Emmy Award-winning tap dancer Jason Samuels Smith.

The fest will open with an item called Shabd, based on Das’ new work, Kathak Yoga. It would feature a performance by the critically acclaimed Chitresh Das Dance Company. Highlighting Das’ innovation, his international company - all ladies - will display the various elements inherent in Kathak — Taayari, Layakari, Khubsurti and Nazakat, through rapid footwork and chakkars. They will be juxtaposed with soft, graceful movements and the use ofabhinaya

while simultaneously reciting the taal, singing the nagma and playing

an instrument — the harmonium or manjira.

“Kathak Yoga has been inspired by the great rishis and sadhus of India. While dancing, the ladies would be reciting the taal and the nagma, even while they would be doing the Tihai with their feet. This involves impeccable stamina, proper blood circulation, deep focus and a highly-sophisticated math. This would be followed by Jason’s solo performance, after which I would strut the stage for a Kathak solo. These done, Jason and I would then perform together. A part of the stage would have musicians playing the tabla, sitar, sarod and sarangi, while another will have drums, bass and piano, signifying the East meeting the West,” explains Das.

On the 31st, Kathak exponent Shambhavi Vaze and Bharatnatyam dancer Parimal Phadke will showcase Nritya Sangam along with their students, bringing two classical dance styles upon one platform. The duo would therefore adeptly explore the contrasts and similarities in the styles. Vaze elucidates, “It was very nice of the committee to reserve one day for local dance institutes, for this is a way to attract more localites towards the fest. We have been performing Nritya Sangamacross the world but have not been able to do it that often in Pune.

The fest therefore is a good opportunity for people here to view Nritya Sangam after a long time. It is an amalgamation of two different dance forms that are known to be very distinct from each other. Still, the two are combined in such a way that the strengths of each form have been kept intact,while the juxtaposition of the dance styles becomes the forte of the presentation.”

Phadke assures us that there would be an interesting play of visuals explored through Kathak and Bharatnatyam. “It would be quite interesting because we would intersperse duet and group choreographies alternately and both troupes would ultimately blend together,” he adds.

The season pass for both the days cost Rs300, Rs200 and Rs100 and they can be collected from Hotel Pathik, E-Square, Pune Club, Ishanya and ashwantrao Chavan Natyagruh.