Samaavartan is the brain child of well-known classical and playback singer Samanvitha Sharam under the Nadam Banner. What sets this solo Kathak performance apart from the rest is the unique twist that Samanvitha imbues. Samanvitha has been a Bharatanatyam dancer all her life, but her heart was always passionate about Kathak. Talking about her journey, she reveals, “From childhood, I have always been ingrained in music and dance. Ten years ago when I saw my gurus Nandini K Mehta and Murali Mohan perform, it was a turning point in my life. The way they conducted themselves and carried out the entire repertoire, I learned that it was never too late to learn something new.” Although she sticks to the traditional repertoire of Kathak, Samanvitha wants to add a unique twist and flavour to the recital. She adds, “I will be performing in the traditional Kathakaar style which is how Kathak was originally performed, where dancers would sing, explain and dance. It’s rare to find dancers who are musicians as well. I wantto incorporate music into my performance.” Samanvitha says the only thing that one can expect out of this show is a spectacle. She adds, “This show is not just about performing Kathak but also showing the glory of this classical dance form in its fullest. Till now, people have known about my passion for music, through this show, I want to show them the other side of my passion, dance,” she adds.
No classical dance recital is complete without classical music. Samanvitha’s performance will be accompanied by a live music ensemble that is headed by renowned tabalchi Praveen D Rao. The pieces she will performing, she explains are, “I will be starting off with the Vandana, then Taal, Nritta, Bhajan and finishing off with Taaran which is the finale to any traditional Kathak performance. Being a trained musician and dancer, I have composed the Taraana.” In recent years, the art of classical dance has come a long way. Explaining the message that she wants to send through this show, “My gurus have always said and inculcated in us that though classical dances are a dying form, we can reach out to the common man by making it more exciting, interactive and making people understand what’s happening on stage.” Samanvitha thinks that the dance form has grown a lot in the city and other Southern regions. “There are a lot of Kathak dancers of good repute. Although, it may not be as popular as Bhataratanatyam, the dance form is growing,” she signs off.
— Catch her perfromance at ADA Rangamandira on June 17.
