Mehfil-E Kathak

Chitresh Das dancers enthrall at Fountain Theater

LOS ANGELES: The Fountain Theater, Los Angeles, partnered with Chitresh Das Dance company to present Mehfil-E, a new series of Kathak classical dance and music from North India on the second Sunday of every month. Fountain Theater co-artistic director Deborah Lawlor says “We are calling the series Mehfil-e which literally translated means an evening of courtly entertainment in an intimate setting.”
　
The Fountain Theatre’s first program in the series on Sunday Oct 11 night presented dancers Farah Yasmeen Shaikh and Anjali Nath who showcased their scintillating Kathak style of dancing. The duo, students of Pandit Chitresh Das, mesmerized the audience with their amazing unpredictable rhythmic exchange, storytelling, creative strengths and innovation. The passionate focus of the dancers was thrilling whether it was bewildering , revved up mathematic beat or a luminous expression dramatized by a perfect frozen movement in time.

It was a feast for the senses as the dancers celebrated with finesse, subtlety and pure joy the intricacies of taiyari (technique) and khoobsurti and nazakat( movement and expression).
 
The program began with an invocation or puja by Anjali Nath reflecting homage paid to the Goddess Durga who maintains moral order and justice in the universe.

Rangmanch evoked the five elements of nature, the four cardinal directions and five elements of the senses. Thaat and Bol in 16 beats- beginning with a seductive slow tempo progressing rapidly and culminating in Drut Laya was a splendid classic and Anjali Nath was astonishing in this highly charged work. Even though she missed a pirouette, she promptly asked the musicians to repeat the segment while she spun around in rapture ending on the perfect beat. Bravo!

She then segued into Ghat Bhhao Holi Tarana ushering the spring festival of Holi where the beguiling Radha fills a pitchkari, a spray gun with colored powder and teases Lord Krishna. The notes in the brochure elaborated that Radha’s desire for Lord Krishna and “his elusiveness represents our desire for being in touch with the divine force” and how we attain that connection, lose it and seek to reconnect. Exploring the elegiac lyrics, Anjali Nath presented an evocative performance drawing repeated applause.
 
The second part of the program introduced Farah Yasmeen Shaikh who did pranam and praised Lord Ganesha the God of knowledge, wisdom and wealth. She selected a taal in a 14 beat cycle. A challenging collage of recitation, movement, and improvisation that made the senses literally whirl in a kaleidescope of color and imagery.
 
A dramatic storytelling in Kathak style invited the audience into the world of Vrindavan where the people were saved by Lord Krishna from the violent anger of Lord Indra. Elegant, stunning costumes and sparkling jewels highlighted Farah Yasmeen Shaikh’s grace, and nuances of expression . Shyam Sundara, a Meera bhajan ended this segment where Meera surrenders to Lord Krishna through her passionate verse.

Farah Yasmeen Shaikh, a truly significant artist ignited the crowd with her inspired rhythms, dazzling footwork as she drew on the rich heritage of ancient Kathak traditions.
 
The irresistible potent combination of dancers, Farah Yasmeen Shaikh and Anjali Nath onstage was an explosive double bill, brilliant and demanding. The duet segments by Farah and Anjali introduced us to Kathak Yoga one of Pandit Chitresh Das’ innovations within a structured tradition. Inspired by the spiritual disciplines of sadhus who push boundaries to attain moksha (liberation) Pandit Das has desired to push these boundaries through dance. In Kathak, the dancer recites, sings and dances. Pandit Das adds the element of the dancer also playing an instrument. Farah played the harmonium while swirling around in perfect time, while singing, and reciting without a misstep or being out of breath. (Kathak Yoga and Pandit Das’’s work is the subject of Dr Sarah Morelli’s PHD dissertation at Harvard University.)

Jogkauna Tarana - The tarana is a melody which uses syllables instead of words, inspired from the language of the drum to convey rhythm. Apart from the fluent , languorous, movements of Kathak, the spontaneous question and answer, complex rhythmic exchange between accompanying musicians and the dancers is always a tour de force. The two dancers made it a compelling and exciting classical piece.

The program ended in a moving Raghupati Raghava devotional song in praise of Lord Rama…Rama ,Lord of Heavens, blessed is thy name.Some of us call you as Shiva, and some others as Allah, but we beg you Lord, that you bless us all… a bhajan always associated with Mahatma Gandhi.

Apart from their impeccable technique and singular vision the dancers interacted with vivacity and humor with the audience making it a memorable evening. Farah is a senior instructor at Chhandam, tours extensively and was awarded the Shenson Performing Arts Fellowshiip. Anjali Nath has performed in arts education programs and toured several times in India.
 
At the harmonium was Dr Gopal Marathe an accomplished musician who once accompanied the great Kathak dancer Sitara Devi. He has been teaching Hindustani music in Southern California since 1980 and accompanied Pandit Jasraj and Girija Devi and other world class classical singers. Ben Kunin trained under the maestro Ustad Ali Akbar Jhan Sahib and tabla under Pandit Swapan Chaudri. Javad Butah at the tabla has played world wide and is the disciple of tabla master Pandit Anindo Chatterjee. The vocalist was Rina Mehta. Although she sang with ease, the voice was far too muted, perhaps a technical glitch.

The Chitresh Das company and Chhandam School was founded by Pandit Chitresh Das in 1980. Kathak performances will be held on Oct 18.

Prem Kishore
India Post News Service