Indian classical dance: Crossing boundaries

There are nine types of Indian Classical dances and each one is unique and graceful in itself. But Kathak, Bharatnatyam and Odissi is crossing the boundaries of India and gaining popularity throughout the globe.

In 1996 Masaka Ono from Japan come to Nrityagram, India and started training from Odissi Dancer Late Protima Gauri, Surupa Sen, Bijayini Satpathy, Guru Shri Kelucharan Mohapatra, Guru Ramani Ranjan Jena, and Guru Naba Kishore Mishra. After getting trained in Odissi she become a solo performer and leaving a mark of this dance in the world.

image reference: Wikipedia

Sharon Lowen is from Detroit, United States. She came to India in 1973 on Scholarship to learn Manipuri from Guru Singhajit Singh (Triveni Kala Sangam, New Delhi). Later on, she learned Chau. But Sharon Lowen is famous for Odissi dance and trained under Guru Kelucharan Mohapatra. She has been in India for more than 40 years. She is a performer, choreographer for film and television, and given her performances throughout India, North America, Asia, Africa, the United Kingdom. and the Middle East.

image reference: purvai

Isabelle Anna is a renowned name in the field of Indian Classical Dance. She started her training in Bharatnatyam at the tender age of 5 years. Her parents were so fond of Indian culture that they established the Indian Cultural Centre in France even before her birth. According to her Bharatnatyam is very famous in France. After learning Bharatnatyam for 15 years she found her attraction towards Kathak (Lucknow Gharana) in 1998. She started her career as a choreographer of Kathak on non-Indian music and settled back and joined her parents Indian Cultural Centre.

image reference: kathakanna

Kim Eun Jung is trained in traditional and modern Korean dance but she got fascinated by Kathak after watching Pdt. Birju Maharaj stage performance she came to India in 1998 and joined Guru Urmila Nagar and later she trained with Jai Kishan Ji son of Birju Maharaj.

image reference: youtube

Foreigners are presenting Indian culture, tradition, and art and spreading it all over the world. Not only foreign artists but also Indian artists taking Indian art across the globe.

Aditi Mangaldas, a well-known name in the field of Indian Classical Dance Kathak. She is a Kathak dancer and Choreographer who has taken this art to the new heights. She is a disciple of Kumudani Lakhia and Birju Maharaj, after being in their troupe she started her own institution in the name of the Aditi Mangaldas Dance Company – The Drishtikon Dance Foundation, Delhi. She has produced and choreographed many dances Cheekh, Swagat Vistar, The Sound of the universe, Vrindakriti etc.

image reference: Pinterest

Vishal Krishna grandson of Late Sitara Devi taking the legacy of Kathak forward. He has received many prestigious awards which includes Pt. Birju Maharaj Sangeet Samriddhi Samman, Ustad Bismillah Khan Yuva Puraskar 2015 etc. He has performed at many Dance festivals across the countries.

image reference: Pinterest

Kumar Sharma belongs to Jaipur Gharana of Kathak and taken this Indian Classical dance form in many countries. He has given a new identity to Kathak by experimenting with contemporary. He has been a part of many Talent shows and choreographed many dances. He is globally famous for his flawless dancing on the English song “Shape of You”.

image reference: Picbabun

FAQ’S Related Indian Classical Dance: Crossing Boundaries

Does the government help artists to take Indian classical dance across countries?

There is a department called the Ministry of Culture. The function of this Ministry is l to promote cultural exchanges at the international level in order to achieve these objectives, the Ministry undertakes various activities. for more information www.indiaculture.nic.in

About the Author: – Neha Khunteta

She is a Kathak Artist and has been associated with it for more than 10 years and the founder of Kathak By Neha the best Kathak dance academy in Jaipur.

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