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 Sanjukta Sinha's Ahmedabad Dance Residency 2025 - Bijoy Shivram e-mail: bijoyshivram@gmail.com Photos: Yash Shah March 4, 2025 In an evening drenched in the spirit of devotion, discipline and dynamism, the Sanjukta Sinha Dance Company unveiled a mesmerizing celebration of Kathak. This grand performance was not merely the culmination of the Ahmedabad Dance Residency 2025 but a testament to the collective passion of 80 dancers - students of Sanjukta Sinha and residency participants alike - who came together to present an evening of artistic brilliance. The evening commenced with a soulful invocation to Goddess Saraswati, setting an ethereal tone that resonated throughout the performance. This divine prelude was an earnest plea for wisdom, knowledge, and artistic excellence - values that lay at the heart of every movement to follow.  The first half of the performance featured 55 of Sanjukta Sinha's students, each at different stages of their Kathak journey, from a few months to a couple of years. Their presentation was a vibrant expression of discipline, joy, and dedication, bringing together compositions rooted in the classical vocabulary of Kathak. They eloquently articulated the nuances of Salami Tukda, Parans, Kavit, Tihaai and Baant, each showcasing clarity, precision, and grace. Elevating this experience was the recorded tabla accompaniment of the gifted Riddhish Vora, whose rhythmic mastery added a pulsating depth to the performance. A particularly moving aspect of the evening was the sheer dedication of the participants - some at the start of their journey, others with years of training - moving in unison, bound by a shared passion for the art. Their perseverance, shaped under Sanjukta Sinha's keen eye, was evident in every precise chakkar, poised stance, and measured beat.  The second half featured the outcome of the Ahmedabad Dance Residency 2025, where 25 dedicated dancers, who had trained intensively, presented a mesmerizing Thaat, followed by an exquisite technical composition featuring Parans, Tihaai, and Gat. These artists, from London, Poland, Japan, Sri Lanka, Mumbai, Delhi and Gujarat, performed with remarkable finesse. Their presentation was accompanied by the evocative compositions of Praveen Rao from Bangalore, adding depth and grandeur to the performance. Sanjukta Sinha's choreography stood out for its crisp, powerful formations and an impeccable sense of space. The use of multiple wings created a grand entrance and an element of surprise, moving beyond conventional side-wing entrances. Each movement was a statement - bold, articulate, and executed with precision.  The grand finale belonged to the performing unit of the Sanjukta Sinha Dance Company - Krutika Ghanekar, Bhakti Dani Shah, Tirtha Juwatkar, Pankaj Sihag, Hiren Gajjar, Vihanga Rukshan and Shantanu Gosavi - who presented Taal Dhamaar. This 14-beat cycle, known for its depth and grandeur, was executed with rhythmic complexity and expressive power, blending tradition with dynamic storytelling. As the night drew to a close, the participants were honoured with certificates, recognizing their dedication to the art form. In that moment, as each dancer stepped forward, it became evident that beyond technique and performance, this journey was about transformation - an artistic, personal and spiritual metamorphosis. With a heartfelt note of gratitude, the curtains fell on an evening that was not just a performance but a celebration - of rhythm, devotion, and the timeless power of dance. As the echoes of ghungroos lingered in the air, the audience departed, carrying with them the imprint of a night where Kathak was not only seen but deeply felt.  Son of journalists K Shivram and Amni Shivram, the first Malayali woman English journalist, Bijoy Shivram is an accomplished Indian classical dancer trained in Bharatanatyam and Kuchipudi. A passionate promoter of the arts and a skilled graphic designer, he currently serves as the Vice Principal of JG College of Performing Arts and the Assistant Director (Operations) overseeing 17 JG colleges. He is also the founder of Preksha, an organization dedicated to the promotion of art and culture in Ahmedabad. Since 2020, Bijoy has curated the YouTube series 'Gurudakshina - An Ode to our Gurus,' celebrating the legacy of mentorship and tradition. |
