Nritya Ankur - Your First Step into the World of Kathak

Nritya Ankur seamlessly integrates these sacred elements with the core syllabus of Kathak traditions, ensuring a holistic learning experience for students. From mastering intricate footwork like Toda, Tukdas, Kavitt, and parans to embodying the expressive grace of Abhinaya, learners are guided through a transformative journey that embraces both tradition and innovation.

The curriculum of Nritya Ankur is structured into three modules, culminating in a diploma offered by the esteemed Natavari Kathak Nritya Academy, Indore. Central to the course is the transliteration of Abhinay Darpan by Padma Shri Awardee Dr. Puru Dadheech, where he artfully transcribes the shlokas into Hindi poetic dohas. These poetic compositions serve as engaging tools to impart the meanings and nuances of hasta mudras in a playful yet profound manner, enriching the learning experience for students of all levels.

The highlights of this course include -

• The classes will start with Ganesh shlokas like 'Vakra-Tunndda Maha-Kaaya…' and Shloka from abhinaya darpana such as 'Yato hasto tato drishti….'
• We will move on to the taal nartana. The emphasis will be on understanding rhythm (taal) and tempo (laya). Starting with Teentaal, the students will learn to recite and demonstrate it with their hands, and the bol and footwork. The concepts of sam, taali, khaali, avartan and other significant aspects of taal will be taught explicitly.
• Similarly, when it comes to tempo or Laya - different tempos such as Vilambit laya, Madya Laya and Drut Laya will be taught. 
• ⁠Coordinating hand movements with feet
• ⁠Chakkar (spins) basics, its feet movements and hand movements, and techniques.
• ⁠The basic todas, chakkardar todas, tatkaar ke prakaar, parans.
• ⁠Learning dance on poems called as kavitts of Krishna and Radha.
• ⁠Learning dance on one simple bhajan so that students can learn how to practice abhinaya from face and body movements.

About the Teacher

Harshita Sharma Dadheech is a torchbearer of the Dadheech Legacy. She started her Kathak training at a very tender age in Jabalpur and Later, completed her Diploma Honours at Kathak Kendra Delhi. Harshita is taking her advanced Kathak training in the Guru-Shishya Parampara under her Guru and Father-in-law, legendary Padmashri Dr. Puru Dadheech ji and Guru and Mother-in-law, legendary SNA Awardee Dr Vibha Dadheech ji. Like her name, her presence and dance resonate a calmness and happiness, and with effortless dexterity, she navigates the most complex and lesser-known taal presentations on one side, and subtle emotions on the other. Under the mentorship of her Gurus, Harshita has researched ancient styles and movements within the Kathak dance repertoire. She is among the few performers who have presented rare intra-forms of Kathak dance which is largely unknown to mainstream Kathak artists. Her performances on Pracheen Angas and Gat Nikaas won her accolades from all corners of the world. Harshita has also received the blessings of Spiritual Leader Gurudev Sri Sri Ravishankar to take forward her work in Kathak. Harshita is an experimental artist within the boundaries of tradition. She is an amiable, intelligent, and articulate speaker as well. Her command of her subject sets her above her peer group. While being a bright and energetic dancer she is also soft-natured, empathetic, and extremely humble as a human being, a quality that is a hallmark of her Gurus, the Dadheech couple.