Kathak dancer and founder of Anaadya Performing Arts, Arpita Banerjee
| Photo Credit: Special Arrangement

Discover the intricacies of three Indian classical dance forms — Kathak, Odissi and Kuchipudi at Anaadya Taal Tarang, on the same stage. The festival is presented by Anaadya Performing Arts, a dance school founded by Arpita Banerjee. The evening will open with a production titled Shurpanakhi by Odissi dancer Dr Vandana Supriya Kasaravalli, followed by a Kuchipudi dance recital by Prateeksha Kashi, daughter of veteran dancer Vyjayanthi Kashi.

The second half commences with a Kathak recital by Arpita and the Anaadya ensemble with a ‘Saraswati Vandana’, choreographed by Arpita and music by Dr Puru Dadheech, followed by a solo presentation by Arpita and later a dance composed by Guru Geetanjali Lal and choreographed by Arpita specifically for the ensemble.

Anaadya was started by Arpita in 2019 with a passion to teach dance. “This is the first edition of Taal Tarang,” says the dancer, who trained under Bandana Sen (Kolkata) from when she was five. Arpita went on to win the State-level competition, West Bengal State Academy Contest in 1995 at the age of 11. Once she moved to Bengaluru in 2002, she trained under Murali Mohan and Nandini Mehta

Anaadya’s reason for being, according to Arpita, is because of her passion to teach. “I started teaching Kathak way before Anaadya was formed. Our Indian classical art forms are taught in the guru-shishya parampara, where the knowledge is imparted by a guru to their student. I follow the same motto, when I teach my students. I want to impart my knowledge of dance to the next generation.”

Arpita has degrees of Visharad (BA), Alankar (MA) and Shiksha Visharad (B.Ed) in Kathak. She is an empaneled artiste with ICCR, and accredited by Doordarshan as an A-grade artist.

Most of her students are thriving, Arpita says, and some of them will be performing at Taal Tarang. Arpita also started a children classical dance festival, Anaadya Navapallava, last year to promote young dancers. “I dream of organising more annual dance festivals.” Arpita was adjudged the second best dancer in the National Music and Dance Conference, Pune (2009) and was conferred with the title of ‘Nritya Shiromani’ at Cuttack Mahotsav (2014).  

Taal Tarang, is open to all, says Arpita. “We want more people to come watch classical dance and promote young artists.”

Taal Tarang is on February 28 at Seva Sadan, Malleswaram, 5.30pm onwards. It is open to all.