DANCE ‘Uttar Behni-Mystic River, Mystic Poetess’, a Kathak performance by dancer Sanchita Abrol at C.D. Deshmukh Auditorium, India International Centre (IIC), Lodhi Estate > 7:30pm on 11th March 2017

Kathak Dancer Sanchita Abrol 

Time : 7:30 pm Add to Calendar 11/03/2017 19:30 11/03/2017 21:00 Asia/Kolkata DANCE ‘Uttar Behni-Mystic River, Mystic Poetess’, a Kathak performance by dancer Sanchita Abrol Event Page : http://www.delhievents.com/2017/03/dance-uttar-behni-mystic-river-mystic.html C.D. Deshmukh Auditorium, Main Building, India International Centre (IIC), 40 Max Mueller Marg, Lodhi Estate, New Delhi-110003 DD/MM/YYYY

Entry : Free (Seating on First-Come First-Served Basis)

Venue : C.D. Deshmukh Auditorium, Main Building, India International Centre (IIC), 40 Max Mueller Marg, Lodhi Estate, New Delhi-110003
Venue Info : Events | About | Map | Nearest Metro Stations - 'Khan Market(Vilolet Line)' & 'Jor Bagh(Yellow Line)'
Area : Lodhi Road Area Events

Event Description : DANCE ‘Uttar Behni-Mystic River, Mystic Poetess’, a Kathak performance by dancer Sanchita Abrol and a video presentation, both based on the poem ‘Uttar Behni’ by renowned Dogri poetess Padma Shri Padma Sachdev.

Kathak danseuse, Sanchita Abrol, a a disciple of Padma Shri Guru Shovana Narayan presents Uttar Behni — a Kathak performance accompanied by a video presentation on Saturday, 11th March 2017 at 7:30 pm at C. D. Deshmukh Auditorium, India International Centre. The performance is based on the poem “Uttar Behni” by renowned poetess Padma Shri Padma Sachdev in which she writes about Devika, one of the most sacred rivers in Indian scripture, and its analogy to female liberation.

While the video presentation details the history and significance of the river in Indian mythology, Dogra culture and Shaivism in Jammu and Kashmir, the dance performance interprets Padma Sachdev’s poem in Kathak. Beginning with the Uma Maheshvara enchants, a musical composition as an ode to Lord Shiva and Parvati, the performance will take you through the journey of a female to her absolute absorption into the deity.

​This Kathak presentation portrays female liberation as she breaks out of cultural tradition. Abrol begins with expressions of despair, loneliness and obstacles that women face and moves towards strength and self determination that she finds with her devotion to Lord Shiva. The performance ends with liberation through a spiritual merging with Shiva. 
Says Sanchita Abrol, “My inspiration for the concept Uttar Behni arises from many aspects. Most importantly, My guru, Padma Shri Shovana Narayan and her conceptualisation of Kathak in diverse literary contexts has greatly influenced my own interaction with literature. As my family hails from Jammu and Kashmir, I always admired the beauty of the hills and the sweetness of the native language. While going through Dogri literature, I came across poetry by Padma Shri Padma Sachdev. One of her master pieces ‘Uttar Behni’; its inherent beauty, its connection to female life and its intrinsic expression of devotion to Shiva took my breath away. I found myself immersed with the discourse and its imagery reminding me of my childhood in Jammu. 
This immersion and inquisitiveness led me to research the historical, mythological and cultural aspects. I made a sojourn to the region again. During my research and travel, I came across temples that are glorious in structure and the beauty of the imagery as reflected in the poetic discourse.  My presentation is going to portray the same through the language of Kathak.”

Sanchita Abrol, a disciple of Padma Shri Guru Shovana Narayan began Kathak dance at the nascent age of 5. She says, ‘Preparing for this show has been very challenging. As an artist you always want to give your best, you keep trying till last minute and without Guru’s blessings nothing can be achieved.’

ABOUT THE ARTIST

Sanchita Abrol began Kathak dance at 5 years of age. She quickly gained notoriety, winning dance contests at District and State level and receiving nominations to perform at prestigious events such as the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation & Asia Sammelan. Sanchita is a disciple of venerated Kathak Maestro, Padma shri Guru Shovana Narayan and is an active member of her Guru’s Asavari institute repertoire. 

In early 2014 Sanchita founded Rasadance, an organization in Australia building a bond with the centuries old tradition of story-telling through dance.  Sanchita has performed on the international stage, most notably Ganges-Danube Cultural Festival of India in Hungary 2016, ICCR (Indian Council for Cultural Relations) Festival of India in Italy 2016 and ICCR (Indian Council for Cultural Relations) Festival of India in Morocco 2016 among others. 

Along with her Guru, Sanchita has also performed in various parts of India, including Ganga Mahotsava, Benaras (Varanasi), Geeta Jayanti Festival, Kurukshetra, Sawai Gandharva Bhimsen Mahotsav Pune Festival, Ravindranath Tagore Jayanti, Kolkata and  Hampi festival, Karnataka among others.

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