Our Creative Process: Rehearsals & Workshops
Behind every performance is a story told through discipline. Here is a look at the riyaaz, the collaborative studio experiments, and the workshop techniques that define our way of working.
Rehearsals in full swing with the brilliant tabla player Ojas Adhiya. The dynamic exchange with live musicians is at the heart of Kathak, where rhythm and movement become one.
Conducting a workshop on the 'approach to choreography' for the Youth Kathak Festival, both online and in-person. I believe in sharing my knowledge and helping the next generation of dancers find their own creative voice.
A rehearsal session for 'Raag Raagini' with Parshwanath Upadhye. This is where we break down complex sequences, refine our movements, and build the chemistry that you see on stage.
'Work in progress' for my production 'Ek Anant'. This is the raw stage of creation, where ideas are tested, movements are explored, and the choreography begins to take shape.
Rehearsals for a performance at Gokul temple's centenary celebrations. Every show, big or small, starts with dedicated practice and teamwork in the studio.
Rehearsing a 'Shiva Dhrupad' with my company. You can hear the 'padhant' (rhythmic recitation) which is a crucial part of our practice, helping us internalize the complex rhythmic cycles.
A technical run-through on stage before a show. This is where we coordinate the choreography with the lighting and stage design to ensure a seamless performance.
A typical rehearsal scene with my dance company. Repetition and practice are key to achieving the synchronicity and precision that defines our group performances.
Rehearsing with live musicians in the studio. This immediate feedback loop between the dancers and the tabla, sitar, and vocals is essential for creating a cohesive performance.
A rehearsal for 'Samanvay'. I am actively involved in the practice, dancing with my students to guide them through the choreography and ensure everyone is in sync.
About The Creative Process: Rehearsals & Workshops
When you see a performance on stage, it is the result of countless hours of riyaaz in our Mumbai studios. The real Kathak experience for me happens in the 'sawal-jawab' sessions, where my dancers and I lock into the rhythm with our musicians, refining our padhant and footwork until the movement feels honest. It is a messy, beautiful, and necessary part of the craft.
My creative process begins long before the lights dim on a stage. Whether we are preparing for a festival like the Youth Kathak Festival or developing a new narrative piece, the methodology remains the same. We start with a concept, then move to music design where the tabla, sitar, and sarangi interact directly with the dancer’s movement.
In our Juhu and Vile Parle studios, we focus heavily on technical foundations. This involves hours of padhant (rhythmic recitation), which allows us to internalize the complex taals before we even step onto the floor. My workshops are designed to share this exact process, helping aspiring dancers understand that choreography is not just about sequences of steps, but about finding a logical conversation between the music and the body.
During our rehearsals, we treat the studio as a lab. We test transitions, fix camera blocking for screen projects, and ensure that our group synchronicity is sharp. It is common to see us experimenting with fusion elements, whether we are blending Sufi poetry or working alongside Bharatanatyam artists to find common ground in our movement vocabulary.
If you join a workshop or book a session, you are not just getting a routine. You are learning how to build a piece from scratch, manage a troupe, and coordinate with live musicians. We value trial and error, feedback, and the collective energy of the company. It is hard work, but for us, there is no other way to ensure a performance stays true to the tradition.
Pooja Pant
I’m Pooja Pant, and for me, the studio is where the real work happens. Whether I am conducting a workshop on choreography or drilling movements for a new production, I believe in keeping the process transparent, collaborative, and grounded in the roots of Kathak.
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