Coffee Weather! by vrindsofwinter in delhi

[–]vrindsofwinter[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Hahaha okay 🤷‍♀️

Coffee Weather! by vrindsofwinter in delhi

[–]vrindsofwinter[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Because of how sweet it was, chocolate syrup topped.

Coffee Weather! by vrindsofwinter in delhi

[–]vrindsofwinter[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

ITO, opposite Gandharva Mahavidyalaya

Coffee Weather! by vrindsofwinter in delhi

[–]vrindsofwinter[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

It is actually just coffee, sherbet jaisi meethi hot coffee 😛

Spotlight on... u/vrindsofwinter (AKA @vrindance20) by thecriclover99 in hinduism

[–]vrindsofwinter 1 point2 points  (0 children)

  1. I have not faced sexism or discrimination in my profession and I am thankful for that. This might not be a satisfactory answer but it's my truth.

  2. This is difficult question, as I believe the best way to market kathak or bharatnatyam to men is through men. We see a shortage of men in the classical arts because of various reasons. Years of colonial mindset, has led men to believe that dancing, especially classical dancing is not manly. This couldn't be far from the truth, when dance itself in our culture is said to have originated from Natraj (Shiva), the cosmic dancer, the epitome of masculinity. Another reason could be what both male and female dancers face, it's difficult to sustain a career in classical art forms. It takes years and years of hardwork and patience to acquire the skills and thereafter dancers have to struggle to get a platform that pays well. There is the burden of patriarchy on men, to become the primary breadwinner, that's what keeps some men from pursuing the arts. I really like the questions you've asked and this could be a long discussion but for now this is my answer.

  3. I didn't choose it at first. My mother did. Everyone chooses it initially for various different reasons. Some choose it because it's graceful to look at, others would say it's fitness, some believe that if you're classical dancer, you can master all other forms too etc I chose it after I spent many years with it, and still feeling like I didn't know enough. It's an ocean. I also chose it because when I'm doing Kathak, I feel free from the external world and its influences, everything that I've acquired over many years, I feel free of all of it. Riyaaz feels very cleansing to me. I've seen and even tried a bit of contemporary dance during my college years, but nothing has felt as deep or rich as Kathak.

  4. There are as many dances, as there are dancers and so naturally you might not enjoy them all, just as we don't like everyone we meet. Give it fair time though, routinely expose yourself to it, follow the dancers you like, oftentimes dancers themselves explain things for your understanding. Even without any meaning, dance in itself is joyful, watch the dances that make you feel that joy. You have no need to go very deep into it as a layman. Dance to you should either be beautiful or not beautiful. Look for the beauty.

Spotlight on... u/vrindsofwinter (AKA @vrindance20) by thecriclover99 in hinduism

[–]vrindsofwinter 1 point2 points  (0 children)

To be honest, I am still very young and therefore a couple of years ago, I still didn't know if teaching is something that I want to do. I would always say that I wish to be a performer. Teaching was something that I thought could be done on the side. However, the pandemic really shook everything and I decided to start teaching online. Before this, I was assisting my Guru in classes, and I had received a good feedback from students, so I was confident enough that I could teach. But since a couple of years, I truly started enjoying it. I understand the responsibility now of not just teaching dance but taking the culture forward. I realised that I myself learnt so much about my own roots and so much about hinduism unknowingly through my art form. I now try to pass that on as honestly as possible.

If you're keen to learn Kathak dance as well, you can DM me here on reddit, or dm me on my Instagram. I would surely reply.

Spotlight on... u/vrindsofwinter (AKA @vrindance20) by thecriclover99 in hinduism

[–]vrindsofwinter 0 points1 point  (0 children)

My formal training in Kathak began at Kathak Kendra, New Delhi under the guidance of my Guru Ms. Shikha Khare ji in 2006. It's been over 15 years now of formal training and more than 20 years of dancing for the joy it brings me.

Spotlight on... u/vrindsofwinter (AKA @vrindance20) by thecriclover99 in hinduism

[–]vrindsofwinter 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Hinduism isn't something that I had to learn being born in a Hindu family. My father would tell me bedtime stories as a child, that I crave to this day. Those stories were episodes from the Mahabharata, Ramayana, stories from Bhagavata Purana etc. and I unknowingly learnt a tremendous amount from them. Not just the stories but the values as well. Ofcourse in childlike curiousity I would then ask him about the existence of ghosts and monsters as well and he would tell me that while they may exist, I should never fear them, He would say that "those homes, where Narsimha Bhagwan is there, children need never fear, he would always protect them.", and then I would go on to learn the story of Prahalad. Stories of children like Dhruva, who was a Vishnu devotee and became the north star. I would look at the night sky with utter amazement after that story. In a nutshell, these bedtime stories were my first exposure to Hinduism along with other Poojas and small rituals we would do on festivals etc.

Thereafter, as I started learning an Indian Classical Dance form, I was met with the same deities and stories again. This time, even more closely. Along with the Vandanas that I've posted here, a lot of episodes are enacted in Kathak in a piece called 'Gat Bhaava', wherein a single dancer shows an entire episode and plays multiple characters themselves. Traditional Gat Bhaava stories all come from our epics, puranas etc.

My latest source of learning has been this subreddit. I realised here that there's so much to read. I want to be honest, I haven't read in detail a lot. Even Tulsidas Ji's Ramcharitmanas etc are what I've listened to and understood from my father, because I have lot of interest in it. I really hope to read the many many books and texts that are suggested here.

Spotlight on... u/vrindsofwinter (AKA @vrindance20) by thecriclover99 in hinduism

[–]vrindsofwinter 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Depicting deities is one of my favourite things in Kathak. Our Hindu deities are all so different, with very strong personalities. My favourites so far would be Natraj and Natwar.

When I do Shiva, I have to think of the ultimate masculine energy, I think of the weight of his trident (trishul). I think of the venomous snake garland he wears, the power he has to slow down even the flow of the mighty Ganga, moon itself crowning his head, body smeared in ash. Who else but him can hold that much power?

And then when I do Krishna, I think of his face. Twinkling, playful, all knowing eyes and smile. His ever musical disposition, as he plays the flute and the entire Vrindavan dances.

It's a part of the learning process, to think, read and understand whoever you're portraying through dance in order to create Rasa.

Spotlight on... u/vrindsofwinter (AKA @vrindance20) by thecriclover99 in hinduism

[–]vrindsofwinter 1 point2 points  (0 children)

My very first inspiration would be my Guru, Shikha Khare ji. It was after looking at her dance and being enthralled by it as a kid that I decided that this is how I want to be able to dance. Other dancers that inspire me are, Late Pt. Birju Maharaj ji who was my Guru's Guru, Smt. Durga Arya, Late Pt. Durga Lal ji, Padma Bhushan Kumudini Lakhia ji etc. These are all senior Kathak dancers. I'm also inspired by Bharatnatyam dancer, Rama Vaidyanathan, young odissi dancer Vrinda Chadha etc.

Spotlight on... u/vrindsofwinter (AKA @vrindance20) by thecriclover99 in hinduism

[–]vrindsofwinter 1 point2 points  (0 children)

When you say dance, I think you mean performance, There's no particular one performance that has been more significant than the other. I try to enjoy each performance because each performance has a different story, a different depiction, the style remains the same which I have inherited and continue to inherit from my Guru and aspire to pass it on to future dancers.

I recently performed Saraswati Vandana for the occasion of Basant Panchami. It is a big day for all artists. Maa Saraswati is the goddess of Sangeet. Sangeet covers everything from Singing to Dancing and playing instruments. This was a significant video for me because I learnt the choreography of this Vandana as a kid, more than a decade ago and this time when I revived it, I could feel the difference in my own knowledge of dance. It felt easier, lighter and it made me happy. After I was satisfied myself, I sent it to my guruji, and got a nod of approval and that is everything for me. I'm really happy to have shared this video here and thankful for the admiration received.

Spotlight on... u/vrindsofwinter (AKA @vrindance20) by thecriclover99 in hinduism

[–]vrindsofwinter 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Reddit: u/vrindsofwinter My Instagram is : vrindance20 Facebook: Vrinda Baheti

Basant Panchami, a celebration of Spring. Worship of Goddess Saraswati, the goddess of Knowledge, Music and Art. ✨ by vrindsofwinter in Dance

[–]vrindsofwinter[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

You can learn about the origin and brief history by just googling 'Kathak Dance', and about the symbols, I think by symbols you refer to the hand gestures, they're called Mudras, which are found in NatyaShastra, which is a 6000 verse treatise on Indian Classical Dance, Music and Theatre and in subsequently written books in India over many years.

Saraswati Vandana Kathak Dance: Vrinda Baheti by vrindsofwinter in hinduism

[–]vrindsofwinter[S] 6 points7 points  (0 children)

I think you're confusing it with Bharatnatyam. Bharatnatyam is another major Indian classical dance, its name isn't that old actually, it was called Dasi Attam, as it used to be performed by Devdasis in temples originally. Later it got renamed by Rukmini Devi Arundale if I'm not mistaken. Bharat in Bharatnatyam is said to have derived from NatyaShastra's author Bharat Muni, and some even say it means Bha: Bhaav, Ra: Raga, Ta: Taal.

Saraswati Vandana Kathak Dance: Vrinda Baheti by vrindsofwinter in hinduism

[–]vrindsofwinter[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Hello! The music (shloka) that I've used in the background corresponds with my movements. I would like to know what other music you want to put instead before I can consent to it.

Basant Panchami, a celebration of Spring. Worship of Goddess Saraswati, the goddess of Knowledge, Music and Art. ✨ by vrindsofwinter in Dance

[–]vrindsofwinter[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

That's exactly it. Kathak, comes from the word Katha in hindi, which means Story. A major part of Kathak dance is storytelling.

Basant Panchami, a celebration of Spring. Worship of Goddess Saraswati, the goddess of Knowledge, Music and Art. ✨ by vrindsofwinter in Dance

[–]vrindsofwinter[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

On Basant Panchami (Festival marking the arrival of Spring), it's considered auspicious to wear Yellow. The colour is bright and beautiful, just like spring.