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Nritya Mehfil Dance Event
October 14, 2023 @ 6:00 pm - 9:00 pm
$35 – $40
Nritya Mehfil is a Kathak solo presentation by Shivani Badgi. Join us for an evening filled with music, dance, art, and history as you are transported to an Indian court-style Mehfil through all of your senses!
Tickets cost $35 for WWA members or $40 for non-members.
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The evening will begin with a tea reception at 6p.m. Performance to start at 7p.m.
Kathak is a traditional dance form originating from the North of India hundreds of years ago. Deriving from the Sanskrit word katha meaning story, a Kathak dancer takes intricate rhythms, graceful movement, and captivating expressions to tell stories.
Shivani will show both the emotions of the Bhakti movement (ideologies of love and devotion based in Hinduism), technique and mysticism of the Mughal Darbars (art originating from the courts of the Mughal empire), and modern stories specific to our world now. There will be a special feature with live music and vocals by Deepak Dobhal and Abhinav Acharya of Sur Taal Sangam. Gaayan, Vaadyan & Nritya.
At the end of the program, the space will open up for requests from the audience! Whether you would like to see an emotion that hasn’t been explored yet, a specific piece from the Kathak repertoire that you enjoy, or even a song that has always enticed you, watch it come alive through Shivani’s movement.
About Shivani Badgi
Shivani Badgi is an Indian American dancer, teacher, and choreographer based in New Jersey. She began her training in dance at the tender age of five under Guru Padma Khanna, senior disciple of Nataraj Gopi Krishna, at Indianica Academy in Kathak, Lavani, and Bollywood. While learning dance and teaching under Padma Aunty she performed at Alice Tully at Lincoln Center, the London Olympics, and other reputable stages. She furthered her dance education to learn Ballet, Jazz, and Contemporary at Joffrey Ballet School, Mason Gross School of Arts at Rutgers University, and Broadway Dance Center during her college years. Her performance career continued with opportunities at Carnegie Hall, Consulate General of India in New York, United Nations, Theater for the New City, Longwood Gardens, and soon to be performing at Florida’s Disney World.
In 2017 she opened her dance school, The Gurukul Performing Arts, where she currently teaches Kathak, Contemporary, Lavani, and Semi-Classical. Students of The Gurukul Performing Arts have performed at Carnegie Hall, Disney World, the Consulate General events, and completed beautiful ‘Rang Manch Pravesh’ or senior graduating performances, under her able guidance. Shivani is currently receiving advanced training in Kathak with Guru Syed Sallauddin Pasha, senior disciple of Guru Dr. Maya Rao. She has also spent the past 2 years training in the art of Kuchipudi from Guru Aparna Nadendla, senior disciple of Guru Dr. Shobha Naidu.
