Pandit Birju Maharaj

About the performance: Concert of the Legend

The king of Kathak Dance, Pandit Birju Maharaj will perform magnificent traditional Kathak (North Indian classical dance) dances from Temples to Royal Courts, through Hindu to Muslim cultures. He will be accompanied by his disciple 2005 Sangeet Natak Academy Award Winner Vidushi Saswati Sen. The performance will be to live music accompaniment by Tabla artist Utpal Ghosal, Sitar artist Chandrachur Bhattacharjee and Vocalist Anirban Bhattacharyya.

Pandit Birju Maharaj: The most extraordinary artist in the history of Kathak dance, Pandit Birju Maharaj, the artistic director of his company, is internationally recognized as the greatest living exponent of North Indian classical dance 'Kathak'.

Beate Gordon, Director of Performing Arts Department of the Asia Society, New York wrote, "Birju Maharaj is in the class of the great western performers such as Baryshnikov, Margot Fonteyn, Martha Graham and Merce Cunningham. He is a phenomenon".

· "Stunning! Exquisite! One of the top ten performances of the year!” - Los Angeles Times

· "Pandit Birju Maharaj, a creative genius" - Pandit Ravi Shankar

About the art form: Kathak . . . . .

Kathak dance originated in northern India, and by the 13th century was a religious story-telling form mainly performed in temples. By the 15th century, however, it became a more social practice, performed for royalty at palaces as entertainment. The form became more theatrical and flamboyant, with dancers wearing numerous ankle bells to accentuate their rapid spins and complex footwork. This created an essence of rhythm and footwork that is now an integral part of the dance. The stories told by the dancers became less religious and more dramatic, focusing on tragedy and romance. Today, Kathak is often performed as a combination of both its ancient and more modern permutations, showcasing the arc and social relevance of the form. Kathak expresses abandon and yet it has a reticence that offsets this flamboyance and lends it a charm that is irresistible.

Kathak Rhythms, a leading North Texas school of Indian Classical Dance in the North Indian dance style of Kathak, is proud to host the legendary Pandit Birju Maharaj in Dallas-Fort Worth in June 2018. A dance performance will be held on 24th June, 2018 at the Irving Arts Center followed by a three-day (June 25-27) workshop for Kathak students and dancers, at the Kathak Rhythms studio in Plano, Texas.

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