Kathak is a classical dance from the north of India that stands out from other styles by its soft and graceful wrist movements, its fast and complex foot strokes, its virtuosic pirouettes and its sudden bursts of ecstatic freezing. Many things also happen in the eyes of the dancer, which tells as much as the body.

Maitryee Mahatma was trained by Pandit Birju Maharaj, one of the greatest Kathak masters. Being also a doctor of letters, she worked for a long time on mythical female figures. This reflection on the old and current identity of the Hindu woman influenced her relationship to dance. It is by confronting tradition and modernity that this dancer choreographer makes live the Kathak dance.

In the Kathak dance, the musicians are of crucial importance, and the symbiosis is created by the interaction and the construction of different emotional spheres.

Nabankur Bhattacharya (tabla) is one of the leading students of the fabulous master pt. Anindo Chatterjee. He is known both for his constructive advice and for his solo work and is excellent at Kathak’s performances.

Madhubanti Sarkar (vocals) grew up in a family of musicians in Calcutta and learned both classical music and semi-classical forms of music such as thumri, dadra and bhajan. She became very popular thanks to her colorful and emotional singing, essential to any performance of Kathak.

Bert Cornelis is a renowned Belgian sitar player, trained in “Pathak Gharana”, a unique style of Indian classical music. He has toured the world as a soloist but has also performed in various groups, including Kathak.