‘Dancing Petals’ Kathak recital makes splash

BY A STAFF WRITER

CHICAGO (IL) — The Chicago Kathak Institute, ‘Dancing Petals’, based in Wheeling, IL, organized a unique Kathak recital, ‘Expressions 2014’ at the Cutting Hall Performing Arts Center, Palatine on December 14.

The show was excellently staged in terms of organization, costumes, lighting, sound, presentation and dance quality.

The show started with the Shiv Stuti, followed by five other compositions performed and executed wonderfully by students, children and adults, at different grade levels. These pieces were 3 to 7 minutes long and highlighted technical aspects of Kathak as well as expressive elements.

The second half of the show featured original choreographies, including a traditional solo performed by the Dancing Petals Director, Gurmeet Marhas.

After the solo, unique neo-classical choreographies featured Bharatnatyam along with Kathak. Ms. Chitra Nair and Gurmeet Marhas performed Bharatnatyam and Kathak respectively.

The music to which these choreographies were set ranged from the traditional composed by Pt Birju Maharaj to Carnatic music by the brilliant Swathi Thirunal to a piece by Pt Ravi Shankar and Jean Pierre Rampal.

Gurmeet and Chitra also offered a sneak peek into a minute of a new composition based on western classical music that left the audience wanting.

At the finale, all participating students joined Gurmeet in a Bhajan composed by the Padma Vibhushan Pt. Birju Maharaj, filling the stage with colors of the beautiful costumes and lovely smiles celebrating the accomplishments of the day.