This month, the city of Jalandhar is in for a treat! Studio Antara Jalandhar’s #1 Dance and Creative Art space is hosting an exclusive Kathak Workshop that will be facilitated by Parwati Dutta. Founder Director and Guru at Mahagami Gurukul in Aurangabad, Parwati Dutta is a name to reckon with in the national and international arena of Odissi and Kathak.

Parwati Dutta, is a versatile Odissi and Kathak danseuse, Guru and researcher; and is recognized by the dance-community as a thinker-dancer and a dedicated Arts Administrator. An Alumni of Kathak Kendra, she is a senior disciple of Pt. Birju Maharaj, Padmavibhushan Guru Kelucharan Mohapatra and Padmashri Madhavi Mudgal. Blessed with a graceful bearing and command on technical virtuosity, bhaava (expressions) and taal (rhythm), Parwati’s performances have been greatly appreciated by the connoisseurs within and outside the country. 

Parwati’s dance displays a fine classicism of expression that stems from her rigorous training and contemplation on the tradition and many related concepts of the Indian art through her study, analysis and close proximity with scholars and Gurus. She has many solo and group compositions and productions to her credit. She has traveled extensively for performances and workshops in Hungary, Austria, China, Japan, Malaysia, Myanmar, Brazil, U.K, France, Spain, South Africa; to name a few. Her work as an artist was filmed in a documentary by BBC in 1999. She has been conferred the UNESCO CULTURAL AWARD, DEVADASI NATIONAL AWARD, AKHIL BHARATIYA MARATHI NATYA PARISHAD AWARD, NRITYA BHUSHAN, BHARAT-KALA-RATNA and many coveted awards and recognitions.

Parwati, as the Founder Director and Guru of MAHAGAMI GURUKUL, Aurangabad since the past 22 years has been intensely involved with the dissemination and research in the field of arts. She has done extensive study on Taal system of Odissi & Mardal tradition, Dhrupad, Pakhawaj, Sangeet Ratnakar and the sculptures of Ellora caves and translated her work into dance productions. She has authored a book on Indian Classical Dances named NRITYA-GATHA in English, Hindi, Marathi and Bengali. She is also Vision Director of a unique Gurukul-based school VidyaAranyam in a rural region near Aurangabad.

A film ‘Vaikhari’ recently made by PSBT that revolves around her creative explorations is being screened in some of the National & International Film Festivals.

Since the last one year Director of Studio Antara, Nidhi Mittal and her daughter Aditi Mittal have been travelling to Aurangabad to learn from Parwati Dutta herself.  Says Nidhi, ‘learning from Didi feels like a dream. Her knowledge, willingness to teach, her patience and impeccable command on the subject is every dancer’s dream come true!’ She will be here in a few days to teach Kathak and to talk about the beautiful art form. There are good teachers and great dancers…and then there are those who live their art forms….making it their life….Parwati Dutta is one such beautiful soul who has dedicated over two decades of her life in spreading this art form in over 40 countries, shining the light bright and now is going to shine her light on our city. Make the most of this opportunity to learn from her and to listen to her speak….

If you are a Kathak dancer this is the place for you to be in February!

If you are an aspiring dancer…listening to her will make you fall in love with Kathak!

And if you are a non dancer…you will go back mesmerized with her articulation of this art form as it quite literally dances through her words….and touches your heart.