Big Dance (1) - Kathak with Gauri Sharma Tripathi: 6th July 2008

London hosted a huge event called Big Dance from 5th to 13th July in order to feature dancers of various genres and inspire those who wanted to taste something exciting. Most of the showcases were free – Salsa, Ballroom Dancing, Argentine Tango, Jazz, Hip Hop, Flamenco… There were also dance workshops which would turn onlookers to participants.

I went to the Kathak workshop organised and taught by Gauri Sharma Tripathi, who is a resident artist of the Southbank Centre. I had tried a similar workshop when I was in Japan – I’m interested in this particular Indian classical dance as it is said to be a route of flamenco dancing.

We - some were sitting and watching, some were keen to try – were impressed by the teacher who was energetic, encouraging and maternal. I thought being a good teacher meant being a good public speaker as well as entertainer. She introduced us to the world of Kathak by a series of movements celebrating the nature: raindrops from the sky joining a river, water immersing into the motherly land, the earth growing trees, the branches swinging by winds… It was accompanied by indigenous music as well. We felt something spiritual. As a dance, it was difficult, though!

She also let us try stamping, which could be the origin of flamenco zapateado. The choreography became complicated and faster, but we all enjoyed the dazzling experience. The workshop was concluded by her students’ demonstration, in which an English-looking girl was the most impressing.

I went to the event because of my interest in flamenco, and I was even thinking to start taking a course. But after the workshop, which was more than enjoyable, I felt I shouldn’t enter this deep, spiritual and holy world of Kathak for such a shallow reason that I want to deepen my knowledge of flamenco. Kathak is like an innermost sanctum itself. If you want to learn it, you have to respect Kathak itself rather than making a use of it for any other form of art. I hope to have this kind of workshop again and again, though!