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 Four Forces, One Rhythm: A Kathak confluence - Bijoy Shivram e-mail: bijoyshivram@gmail.com Photos courtesy: Vaishali Trivedi March 10, 2025 Sangati Centre for Performing Arts in collaboration with Samraga, hosted a Kathak workshop that unfolded like poetry in motion at Sardar Vallabhbhai Global University, Ahmedabad. The day witnessed an extraordinary coming together of four luminaries - Guru Geetanjali Lal, Vidha Lal, Hiren Chate, and Vaishali Trivedi - each a master in their own right, weaving an experience that was both profound and exhilarating. The harmony of movement, rhythm, and expression created an atmosphere where tradition found new meaning. Guru Geetanjali Lal, an icon of the Jaipur Gharana, celebrated for her evocative storytelling and impeccable command over technique, carries within her every gesture the weight of history and the depth of emotion. Her artistry is an embodiment of purity - each movement radiating the rigorous precision and majestic grandeur that define her gharana. Decades of dedicated sadhana have refined her dance into an offering, where even a still moment speaks volumes. Her presence alone was an inspiration, her nuanced abhinaya drawing the participants into the evocative world of Kathak. Vidha Lal, her illustrious disciple, brought an electrifying dynamism - her lightning-fast pirouettes and intricate footwork embodying the relentless energy of her lineage. She soared through the taal, each spin an invocation of time itself, her command over layakari revealing an unshakeable connection to rhythm. Every movement felt like a conversation between gravity and flight, an interplay of grace and power that mesmerized all who watched. On tabla, Hiren Chate breathed life into every phrase, his nimble fingers conversing effortlessly with the dancers, accentuating their movements with layers of rhythmic brilliance. His tabla was more than accompaniment - it was a second voice, amplifying the silent pauses, echoing the intricate tihais, and embracing each resonant stomp of the ghungroo. The synergy between dancer and musician was so fluid that it felt as though the taal itself had taken form, pulsating through the space like an unbroken mantra. Vaishali Trivedi, the host and artistic force behind Sangati, stood as the bridge between legacy and innovation. A disciple of the visionary Guru Kumudini Lakhia, she has redefined the contours of Kathak with her distinctive aesthetic - fluid yet precise, introspective yet commanding. With an innate musicality, she not only dances but sings, merging melody with movement in a seamless confluence. Her choreographic works have graced festivals worldwide, and her ability to mould tradition into contemporary expression made her guidance invaluable. In her own dance, Vaishali evokes an ethereal balance between lyricism and structure, her every movement imbued with storytelling that transcends time and form.  The workshop witnessed an overwhelming response, with more than 70 participants filling the in-person session. Additionally, eager learners from the USA, Canada, France, Delhi, and Gujarat joined online to partake in this enriching experience. Dancers of all ages, from budding aspirants to seasoned practitioners, stepped into this sacred space of rhythm and storytelling. For many, it was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to learn directly from these stalwarts, an experience that left them spellbound. Sitting mere feet away, they absorbed not just structured technique but also the intangible essence of artistry - the weight of a glance, the depth of a breath, the silence between beats that held as much meaning as the sound itself. Under the watchful eyes of the gurus, they honed the crisp execution of paran, tukda, and tihai, immersing themselves in the intricate rhythms of the Jaipur Gharana.  The meticulous jaati work, the exhilarating challenge of matching movements to the pulsating bols of the tabla, and the immersive one-on-one mentorship created an atmosphere of sheer artistic surrender. Every strike on the floor was a conversation with time itself, each nuanced movement a delicate balance between structure and spontaneity. The synergy between percussion and ghungroo created a vibrant pulse that coursed through the room, where beats did not merely dictate tempo but became an extension of breath, an expression of the unspoken. The air shimmered with the interplay of motion and melody, a kinetic tapestry woven with precision and passion. The sheer proximity to these maestros left the participants in awe - some unable to hide their wonder at the intricacy of what they were witnessing, others quietly absorbing the depth of knowledge being imparted. Every flick of the wrist, every glance, every rhythmic flourish contributed to an experience that transcended mere technique. The space became a temple of sound and movement, where tradition was not just preserved but lived and breathed. The workshop was not just an exchange of knowledge, it was an invocation of the spirit of Kathak, an unbroken thread binding the past to the present.  As the final bols resonated through the hall, the vibrations of this extraordinary gathering remained suspended in the air, like the fading reverberation of a perfectly timed tihai - complete yet infinite, a rhythm that would continue to beat in the hearts of all who danced that day.  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. |
