VIBHAVA by Abhimanyu & Vidha Lal

One of the main classical Indian dance forms, kathak is believed to originate from the nomadic bards of ancient northern India referred to as kathakars or storytellers, who wandered around and told legends and stories through music, dance and song using rhythmic footwork, hand gestures and facial expressions.

Friday 26th October 2018, 7pm

Capstone Theatre, Liverpool

Beginning as a spiritual solo dance in the Vedic period, kathak was brought into the magnificent palaces of the 16th century Mughal emperors where it took on a more erotic, sensuous form. Over time, it incorporated a variety of choreographed dance items, and evolved to include ensemble performances.

Each kathak dancer lends his or her own style, identity and dimensions, often experimenting with music, themes, costumes, presentation styles and formats.

Vibhava – Evolution of Kathak traces the history of this dance, starting from the Vedic Age when it began as a sacred dance, to the Mughal era when it became a form of entertainment, and to where it is today.

Abhimanyu Lal and Vidha Lal are award-winning Grade A artists from Delhi Doordarshan and I.C.C.R, and were disciples of Sangeet Natak Academy awardee Guru Smt Geetanjali Lal of the Jaipur gharana, and guru Shishya Parampara. They have performed at major dance festivals in and out of India, and conduct regular workshops and demonstrations. Abhimanyu Lal is a teacher at the National Institute of Kathak Dance (KATHAK KENDRA) in New Delhi while Vidha Lal is the founder-director of AV Dance Company Kathak Resonance and teaches at the Devi Durga Kathak Sansthan in New Delhi, of which Guru Geetanjali Lal is the director.

Indika is Europe’s finest festival of Indian arts curated by Milapfest and will be running in venues across Liverpool and beyond from 17th October to 3rd November. For full listings, click here.