22-yr-old dance festival starts with ballads on Krishna

NASHIK: Nataraja Pt Gopi Krishna dance festival, the event popular in the city for the last 22 years, began on Wednesday at Kalidasa Kala Mandir with ‘Krishna Madhuri’, a presentation dedicated to Krishna. Rekha Nadgauda, the founder of Kirti Kala Mandir, and her disciples performed on the inaugural day of the three-day event.
“The festival is a tribute to our guru and legendary kathak exponent Pt Gopi Krishna.His birth anniversary is on August 22. Kirti Kala Mandir started this festival in 1994 to celebrate his life and work,” said Rekha Nandagauda, who, along with her daughters and disciples Ashwini Nandgauda-Kalsekar and Aditi Nadgauda-Panse, presented dance sequels based on various bandishes, bhajans and songs on Krishna.
“This concept was developed by kathak exponent Pt Shama Bhate. We selected the songs, bhajans and the bandishes composed by Mirabai, Soordas, Taansen,and others. These songs depict Krishna in various moods,” she said. The trio expressed the emotion in these ballads through kathak. Their graceful and skilled movements and attractive formations received rounds of applauds. Live musical accompaniment in the background added class to the event. The Kalidas Kala Mandir was jam packed with the dance-lovers.
The three-day festival commenced with the performance by Rekha Nadgauda. She presented a composition on a classical bandish depicting the conversation between Krishna as child and mother Yashoda. It was followed by a bandish composed by classical music Guru Pt S N Ratanjankar which was elaborated by Ashwini and Aditi. The three-day event will see a blend of folk, classical and modern dances.