This Saturday, Kathak exponent Asavari Pawar, daughter of well known Guru Pratap Pawar, presents her students, aged from six to 16, in a production titled “Kanya” on the theme of the girl child. This is an issue often raised by classical dancers and other artists in various ways through their performances.
But Asavari, who spent many years in foreign countries and has now settled in India, has been teaching for only three years and is presenting this programme as the ‘annual day’ of her institution Kalaashish. In such cases one often sees teachers resort to the conventional repertoire of the dance form rather than a theme-based work.
“The idea has been in my mind always, and I have done shows on Kamala Das and Dinesh Nandini Dalmia’ poems which have very strong opinions,” she says, adding it is “killing two birds with one stone”. Therefore she has woven traditional intraforms of Kathak into the theme, making it a “classical entertaining show with a social theme.”
The students will first present technical aspects of Kathak and then Dinesh Nandini’s poem “Dhanyawad” about the suppression of women, says Asavari. Then begins “Kanya”, which utilises footwork and abhinaya-based songs typical of Kathak including thumris to depict the child as she grows up.
Often we find that social issues or ills appear more strongly to the viewer who visits from outside the country, while those who live in it develop, out of constant exposure, a certain tolerance. On whether she has always preferred themes like a woman’s emancipation to the Nayaka-Nayika format of classical dance, she says simply, “The theme is me, and my opinion presented in a positive and Kathak manner.”
Women in ancient India were much more “liberated and happy,” she adds. “Living in India after Trinidad, Guyana and England has given me good exposure to express myself without hesitation. Living in India in these times, one enjoys the best of both worlds.”
(The programme takes place at Azad Bhawan, Indian Council for Cultural Relations, Indraprastha Estate, 6.30 p.m., November 1)
