The world renowned Chhandam School of Kathak founded by Pandit Chitresh Das, recently opened its Mumbai branch with Seema Mehta as Branch Director. Led by Mehta, the students of the school recently put up ‘Bridges’, a show at NCPA involving some incredible techniques while performing Kathak Yoga. Seema Mehta is the daughter of Purnima and Kaushik Kirtilal Mehta.

The show depicted the act and story of Sita-haran and transported the audience to a different era, using an Indian tradition that hardly any have ever experienced before. Besides Seema Mehta, Pt. Das' disciples Charlotte Moraga, Antara Bhardwaj and Ashyka Dave also performed.

The Chhandam School of Kathak founded by Pandit Chitresh Das in 1981 has branches in San Francisco, Los Angeles, Boston, Canada, Kolkata and Mumbai training over 500 students in Kathak, an ancient art of storytelling. Kathak has bridged minds and traditions by taking these stories across the boundaries of time and space appealing to people the world over. It brings together the power of the Jaipur gharana with the elegance of the Lucknow gharana.

Combining tayari (technique, speed, and endurance), laykari (rhythmic virtuosity), khoobsurti (gracefulness of movement) and nazakat (sophisticated subtlety), students learn history, philosophy and India’s mathematical rhythmic system.

The Mumbai Branch opened in April 2010 and the classes are held at the Priyadarshini Park-Priyadarshini Sports Complex, Nepeansea Rd and at the Raheja Classique Club, Lokhandwala, Andheri (W).

Click here to view video of programme.