Expression
Saswati Sen writes exclusively for pratappawar.com
Kathak (My desire, my destiny)
I was born in a family of doctors and lawyers in Bengal,
and no one ever dreamt of me taking up dance as my career
— my ultimate goal.
Since my early childhood, as I started learning Kathak
— just as a past time hobby — I was drawn towards
the fantasy of its rhythmic prowess and the wide, yet subtle
range of emotional expressions. My first experience of the
rich form was during an indoor recital of expressional
rendering by the great master, the late Guru Shambhu Maharaj.
Even as a child my imaginations were carried to levels
beyond words, and linger to this day in my memory.
The obsession with Kathak started as I came under the
tutelage of the great maestro Pt. Birju Maharaj.
With him started my journey to explore the depth
of this divine dance. Initially, it was learning
the vast repertoire, the numerous intraforms
within the technique; then started the joy in
performing what was learnt — the arduous
and meticulous practice given shape. But soon the
quest for more knowledge drove me to towards
observing and listening to my master more intently
— analysing and studying the inner beauty and
strength of his style, and this revealed another
dimension of the art which brought about true
contentment.
After this experience, every movement, every beat
became ‘poetry’. Even before the audience
enjoyed my presentation, I myself relished the inner
essence. Thus work was joy —labour gave satisfaction.
As I started to teach, my foremost aim was to share
this divine experience with my students, young or old,
and to make them realise the true purpose of dance.
Kathak which offers maximum scope for improvisation
and spontaneous creation during any performance,
not only allows the students to enjoy a dance style;
it tunes up every muscle of the body, brings awareness
to the mind through the balance of rhythm, and awakens
the soul to resonate with the surroundings, thus showing
the path to attain the ultimate bliss.
— Saswati Sen
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