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Alaknanda and Sanskriti troupe charm Polish audience August 12, 2013 Kathak dancer Alaknanda and her Sanskriti dance troupe were invited to perform at the 14th Cracovia Court Danza Festival (July 28 - August 4, 2013) in Krakow, Poland. The festival aims at development of cooperation and exchange with valued dancers and choreographers from Poland and other countries and promotion of cultural exchange with other dance ensembles by enabling their presentations. It is interspersed with performances, workshops and lecture demonstration sessions. The festival observed an ‘India Day’ on 31st July that witnessed a performance by Sanskriti dance troupe comprising Shiv Stuti, Teental and Tarana. Alaknanda presented a lecture on the essence of ‘Guru Shishya Parampara’ and Indian cultural organization at Villa Decius. She also conducted her 5th Kathak workshop at the festival from 28th July to 2nd August. Her Polish students presented Kathak on the closing day (2nd August) which was highly applauded by the audience. The workshop participants presented Teentaal, Guru Vandana and Thumri (“Mai toh tose Haari”). Shiv Stuti Sufi Moksh Workshop participants The finale performance at Barbarakn Castle on 3rd August was presented by Alaknanda with her troupe members Divya Raturi, Minoti Sikdar, Ambieca Saha and Rituparna Mukherjee. Her Kathak choreography on Bach’s musical composition was very well received and the audience loved the global union of culture. Moksh and Sufi compositions received a standing ovation. The ‘Spanish Doll Dance,’ a duet performance of Alaknanda with Baroque artiste Romana Agnel representing a meeting point of East and West, was much appreciated. Alaknanda introduced Srabonti Dutta from Singapore to the Polish audience. Srabonti presented Moksh and Dasavatar in the lyrical beauty of Odissi. The closing day (4th August) saw Sanskriti give a scintillating performance at the Wawel Castle and City Square.