Finally, I’ve continued to master my performance of Kathak – an artform I have been training in since June 2014. Under the guidance of Ms. Vanita Dalal, I have learned the fundamentals of ‘todhas’ and ‘tukdas’ as well as the 4 different types of footwork, including ‘tatkal’. In August
2021, I started taking classes under Ms. Anita Hemendra Damania, while training independently in the interim on account of the COVID lockdown. Under Ms. Damania, I worked on refining my fundamental learning and then advanced to dances and learning theory, including the different Kathak mudras, their history and uses, as well as writing down the ‘todhas’, ‘tukdas’ and ‘taals’, practicing ‘taals’ and ‘turns’, called ‘chakars.’ In addition to the adoption of the theory and practice mentioned above, I also prepared for the kathak exams, which involved naming luminary kathak composers, a written exam, and performing particular dances followed by theory questions in front of examiners and musicians.
Over time, I have taken the Praveshika Pratham Exam, as part of the Akhil Bharitiya Gandharva Mahavidyalaya Mandal, in Mumbai, as well as the Praveshika Poorna Exam, where I placed first in April 2024.
