1:15 - 2:15 pm
Leela Kathak
Seattle Center House
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The Leela Kathak Dancers perform Jaipur style Kathak under the guidance of Urmila Nagar, an internationally renowned danceuse born in Rajastan who has studied Kathak with two masters of the Jaipur style: Pandit Sunder Prasad and Pandit Kundanlal Gangani. She also studied vocal music from several masters including the legendary Siddheshwari Devi. Urmila has developed a unique style that combines dancing and singing. Since 1996, Urmila has been coming to Seattle for summer residencies under the aegis of the Prabha Rustagi Memorial Trust.
Kathak is a classical dance form of North India. It originated in the temples, evolved into a court dance, and then developed into its present concert form. Jaipur Kathak emphasizes fast footwork, rhythmic improvisation, and expressive story-telling dance. This dance form is known for its graceful effortless naturalness in movement and stance. Tabla hand drums, pakhawaj, vocal, sarangi, harmonium, and string instruments often accompany it.
Over the last decade, many promising Leela dance apprentices have emerged. Some of the advanced dancers began their training under the Late Prabha Rustagi. Since 1996 they and other new dancers have been meticulously groomed by Urmila-ji during intensive summer residencies. The students practice throughout the year with volunteer musicians Annie Penta (tabla), and Shantha Benegal (vocal) . The Leela Kathak Dancers perform at such venues as the Seattle Asian Art Museum, Seattle Public Library Youth Festival, Seattle Folk life, Ethnic Heritage Council’s Winterfest at Seattle Center Househouse, and the Children’s Museum’s Festival of Lights.
The dancers featured in Utsav 2006 will be Nia Bartolucci, Angela Chand, Pooja Chand, Alexandra Gobeille, Mukti Godbole, Kalpita Joshi, Deepa Liegal, Amanda Turner, and Parkavi Turner. The musicians will be Annie Penta (tabla) and Pranoti Hiremath (vocal). An instrumentalist and additional dancers will be named at a later date.
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