Event Details

Sattriya & Kathak by Anita Sharma, Rupa Rani Das Borah & Seujpriya Barthakur Goswami
And
Diksha of a Mystic Rebel
Akka Mahadevi Bharatanatyam by Dr. Lata Surendra & Disciples

An NCPA Presentation

Anita Sharma is a distinguished exponent of Sattriya. As the Founder and Director of Abhinaya Dance Academy in Guwahati, she has been instrumental in imparting the training in the dance form to young aspirants. She is a recipient of the prestigious Sangeet Natak Akademi Award for her contribution to the form. Seujpriya Barthakur Goswami is a Sattriya dance practitioner, actor, choreographer and trainer. A recipient of the Ustad Bismillah Khan Yuva Puraskar, she is the Artistic Director of TAAL, an institute dedicated to Sattriya. Rupa Rani Das Bora is a Kathak exponent of the Lucknow gharana. She is a graded artiste of Doordarshan Kendra, Delhi and is empanelled with the ICCR.

Yatra represents a confluence of water, motion and time and has been composed in a beautiful juxtaposition of Sattriya and Kathak dance styles. From birth to death, human beings pass through various situations and incidents before reaching the final destination of life, Yatra signifies an eternal and unique journey from inception to culmination.

Kalashri Dr. Lata Surendra is a renowned performer, a fastidious Mentor, an imaginative choreographer a sought after curator and speaker , a dance journalist, a committed independent researcher , a sensitive poet and in the field of dance for over six decades. One of the Senior most disciple of the legendary Vidwan Kalaimamani Guru Shri T. S Kadirvelu Pillai, She has left an indelible mark on the cultural landscape, captivating audiences worldwide with her artistic prowess and innovative approach to dance in the written spoken and delineated word through her performances , choreographies, lectures and workshops all over the globe . She has curated unique festivals including the Hindustan Times Kalashri Ghoda and Times Celebrate Bandra festivals; Thematic festivals that explore the intersection of art and contemporary issues, authored insightful art columns and poetry, and utilized Bharatanatyam as a medium for social outreach and therapeutic intervention. She has as the Section President in 2016 and 2018 conducted successfully two world Congresses on Dance – 49th and 52nd in Mumbai in collaboration with International dance council- ( Athens) and Head quarters Paris affiliated with UNESCO. Her research papers are a part of the world Congress libraries in Athens, Spain,Japan, Portugal, Argentina, U.S.A, Rome etc and the International Seminar of Dance organised by the Sangeet Natak Academy-2024. Her choreographic repertoire includes thematic productions that delve into the ethos of spirituality, ecological awareness, and societal transformation. As the founder of the Anjali Bharatanatyam Research Trust, Lata Surendra has established a legacy of artistic excellence and mentorship. and her institution, which completed its golden jubilee in 2024, has nurtured numerous aspiring dancers, who are graded artists of DD and scholarship holders and Teachers in their own right., including renowned personalities like Smt. Aishwarya Rai Bachchan., Girija Oak Godbole & others . Dr Lata Surendra endeavors to impart the aesthetics of Bharatanatyam to underprivileged children and leverage dance as a therapeutic tool for individuals with special needs. She believes that Dance is a bridging metaphor Linking worlds..

Throughout her illustrious career, Lata Surendra has been the recipient of numerous accolades and honors, recognizing her invaluable contributions to the field of dance. Some of her notable achievements include:

• Maharashtra Rajyashaasan Sanskrutik Puraskar for Dance (2022)
• Kalashri Puraskaram from Kerala Sangeet Natak Akademi (2013)
• Padmabhushan Dr. Kanaka Rele- Kanaka Narthana Puraskar (2023)
• Kalasarathy Award (2023)
• Gaurav Puraskar in Palghar (2011)[8]
• Swami Haridas Sammela (1979)
• Foxclues India’s Top 100 Educator Award (2023)[9]
• Asthana Natyamkala Shiromani Award (2024)
• Mahatma Gandhi Global Ambassador of Peace (Diplomatic Mission of Global Peace, 2021)[10]
• SudarshanGaur Kalagaurav Award 2024

The world has many saints but only one akka (elder sister), an honorific given to the 12th-century poet, Mahadevi, by Lingayat saints. Akka Mahadevi was a prominent saint of the Lingayat/Veerashaiva faith, who after renouncing her marriage to King Kaushika, embarked on a spiritual odyssey, becoming an unclad ascetic who merged with Lord Shiva. In her lifetime, she composed around 430 vachanas (a form of spontaneous mystical poem) and expressed radical views on the spiritual struggles faced by a female mystic in a patriarchal society.

Box Office now open.