Inside Our Kathak Dance Company Rehearsals
A peek behind the curtain at my company's riyaaz. Whether we are perfecting a traditional Paran or exploring new choreography, this is where the raw work happens before we ever step on stage.
Exploring Sufi music through the lens of Kathak has been an exciting journey. Here, my company and I are rehearsing a new choreography, blending the grace of Kathak with the soulfulness of Sufi compositions.
Rehearsing a powerful Shiva Dhrupad with my dance company. This piece combines strong, rhythmic footwork with devotional expressions, set to the majestic sound of the Pakhawaj.
My company dancers practicing a traditional Paran in 13 matras that I learned from my guru. Group practice helps us achieve synchronization in our movements and rhythm.
My students and I practicing a `thaat` in 13 matras. The `thaat` is the opening piece in a Kathak performance, establishing the mood and showcasing subtle, graceful movements.
A regular company `riyaaz` session. Here we are practicing a `tihayee` composed by the legendary Guru Prerna Shrimali ji, focusing on precision and unison.
A group rehearsal of a Shiv Dhrupad composition. This piece, written by Baiju Bawra, is a beautiful example of how we use Kathak to interpret and embody devotional poetry.
Practicing a Rupak Paran with my company dancers. A `paran` is a composition using the powerful syllables of the pakhawaj drum, requiring sharp and energetic execution.
A clip from our 'Samanvay' group practice. We are working on complex rhythmic patterns and footwork, ensuring every dancer is in perfect sync with the beat.
Rehearsing with my team for a performance at a local flea market. We love taking Kathak to different spaces and sharing the joy of dance with the community.
About In the Studio: Company Rehearsals
You will notice that our rehearsals aren't just about getting the steps perfect; it’s about that constant sawal-jawab (question-answer) between us and the musicians. When we practice a traditional Paran or a complex Sufi composition, we focus on the connection to the beat—even when we wobble or miss a step—because that is where the real learning happens.
At my company, we believe that the performance is just the final outcome, but the magic truly lives in the hours spent in the studio. Our riyaaz sessions are about building stamina, understanding the rhythm, and most importantly, maintaining the flow between the dancer and the Pakhawaj or Tabla player.
The Process
We don't just run through routines. We dissect them. If we are working on a 13-matra Paran or a Shiv Dhrupad, we spend time breaking down the syllables. We repeat the rhythmic patterns until the footwork becomes muscle memory. For our students, this is the most critical part of the training. You will see us working on precision in our 'thaat' and ensuring our 'tihayee' has the right impact.
Why We Rehearse This Way
Kathak is an evolving conversation. When we blend the grace of Kathak with the soulfulness of Sufi music, we are constantly testing what works and what doesn't. We invite our students to observe how we handle mistakes and how we improvise on the spot. It is a shared journey where the teacher and the students are all learning simultaneously. Whether it is a local flea market performance or a formal stage recital, we treat every practice session with the same level of sincerity. If you are interested in seeing how we structure our technique or how we build a piece from scratch, I hope these glimpses into our studio help you understand the dedication that goes into every movement.
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