NCPA Umang series supported by HSBC

Anurāga.. tales of devotion, love and surrender

Bharatanatyam & Odissi duet by Abhayalakshmi and Paris Laxmi

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Kathak Aanand - Banaras Gharana 

Kathak duet by Saurav Mishra and Gaurav Mishra

Anurāga..tales of devotion, love and surrender

Anurāga is an interdisciplinary exploration born out of years of friendship between Bharathanatyam practitioner Paris Laxmi and Odissi practitioner Abhayalakshmi. Having worked on several projects together Anurāga brings out love and respect towards each other and a deep curiosity to explore innovative movement techniques from each other`s form and thought process. Anurāga will explore traditional choreographies of legendary Gurus as well as new choreographies to weave narratives that are meaningful while finding harmony between the forms.

Paris Laxmi is a French-born Bharatanatyam dancer trained under Armelle Choquard, Dominique Delorme, Sucheta Bhide Chapekar, and Dr. Padma Subrahmanyam. Also skilled in European dance forms, she performs globally and works in Malayalam cinema. She is currently the Director of her new Kochi-based brand, MAATR – Nurturing Art.

Abhayalakshmi, a disciple of Dr. Aruna Mohanty, began with Bharatanatyam and later trained in Odissi under Sharmila Mukerjee. A Doordarshan graded artiste and ICCR, SPICMACAY empanelled, she holds a Master’s in Performing Arts and choreographs solo and collaborative works. She teaches Odissi through Antaryami Performing Arts Centre.

Kathak Aanand - Banaras Gharana 

The presentation will commence with Shiv Vandana — a devotional invocation dedicated to Lord Shiva, who is not only our revered deity but also the Adi Guru of dance in his form as Nataraja. This offering symbolizes our deep respect and humble salutations.

Following this, they will present traditional compositions from the Banaras and Lucknow gharanas. These pieces highlight the distinctive stylistic nuances, aesthetic grace, and expressive depth that characterize these classical Kathak schools.

The program will conclude with a special performance titled Anand Tandav — a contemporary creation that blends the joy, dynamism, and vigorous energy of Tandav within the Kathak tradition. This piece represents our interpretation of the "Kathak Anand" — the sheer bliss of dance.

Saurav and Gaurav Mishra, twin Kathak dancers of the Banaras Gharana, are the sons of sitar maestro Pt. Amar Nath Mishra and disciples of Pt. Ravi Shankar Mishra. They further honed their craft under the legendary Padma Vibhushan Pt. Birju Maharaj. Performing since the age of eleven, they have showcased their art on prestigious national and international platforms. Their notable collaborations include performances with Pt. Birju Maharaj, Madhuri Dixit, and Smt. Malini Awasthi. They have also featured on popular television shows such as Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa (Colors TV), India’s Best Judwaah (Zee TV), and Ganga – The Soul of India with Dia Mirza.

An NCPA Presentation

Supported by HSBC India

Entry free on a first-come-first-served basis.

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