Abhivyakti Finding Ways to Express Ourself Through Kathak Dance with Annu Gupta
“Everyone wants happiness, but the true way to reach perfect happiness is to bring happiness to others.” – Patrul Rinpoche
ABOUT KATHAK DANCE FORM:
Kathak Dance is one of the most ancient forms of Indian Classical Performing Art. It is said to have originated in the temples of North India. Known as the dance of storytellers, Kathak comes
from the word ‘Kathakaar’- the village minstrel who used subtle gestures and movements to enhance the drama c element of the narra ve. One of the essential features of the dance form is
to balance one’s personal emotions and fully embody the characters in a manner of oneness.
ABOUT THE WORKSHOP:
The primary objective of the 7-day long intensive workshop is to collectively create conditions for each one of us to be able to express our hearts and acknowledge the feelings and emotions
that may arise in the process.
This time, we will delve into the profound Aspira on the Prayer of Buddha and the sacred Shakyamuni Mantra, weaving their essence into the graceful and expressive language of Kathak. The participants shall also be introduced to the basics as well as the technical aspects of the dance form such as the footwork, hand movements, mudras, spins and abhinaya — learning about all
these intricacies of the dance form shall help us stay grounded and cultivate awareness of each step, allowing the practice to become a meditative journey.
To bring this theme to life, we will co-create a choreography that weaves the Buddha’s aspirations into our dance. This shall give us an opportunity to immerse ourselves deeply in the profound words of the Buddha’s great aspirations, drawing inspiration from it, reflecting on his boundless compassion, and exploring ways to integrate and practice these qualities in our lives through movement.
The prayer has been translated into Hindi and is available as BodhiBhajan, a project by Sidhartha’s Intent). Please note that the workshop is not about giving any teachings or commentary on the prayer.
ABOUT THE FRAMEWORK FOR THE WORKSHOP:
We will be having a variety of sessions in the workshop such as:
• Guided Meditation: bringing our Mind into the present moment
• Observing Silence: to connect to our deeper self and just to be
• Light Exercises: to bring our attention towards different parts of our body
• Kathak Sessions: as a medium to explore, express and heal
• Group Ac vi es: to expand our horizons while learning from each other’s experiences
• Contempla on: to relate our learnings with life
• Sharing/Reflec on Circles: to go deeper within while listening to others
• Choreography on Buddha’s Aspira on Prayer: to receive reminders and inspiration while expanding our hearts for all beings
• Stage Performance: to share our experiences with the larger group
DAILY SCHEDULE:
9 am – 9.15 am: Guided Medita on/Observing Silence
9.15 am – 9.30 am : Exercises
9.30 am – 10.30 am : Session 1
10.30 am – 11 am : Tea Break
11 am – 12 pm: Session 2
12 pm – 3 pm: Lunch & Break
3 pm – 4.30 pm: Session 3
4.30 pm – 5 pm: Tea Break
5 pm – 6 pm: Session 4
A FEW GENERAL GUIDELINES:
• Minimum age to join is 16 years
• All sessions are mandatory to join.
• No prior training or experience in classical dance is needed to join the workshop.
• The workshop is not gender-specific, anyone who wishes to explore the dance form is welcome to join.
ABOUT THE FACILITATOR:
Annu Gupta is an avid Kathak Praconer, Performer and Teacher based out of New Delhi who has learned and taught this art form for the last 15 years now. She began her journey of learning
Kathak professionally under the guidance of her guru Smt. Monisa Nayak and have also performed at the most reputed platforms across the country, including the Rashtriya Bhawan in New Delhi.
A er moving away from a mainstream career in her field. She found success in working with underprivileged communities through an initiative called ‘Anubhu ’ in 2016. The aim was to inculcate essential life skills such as self-confidence, leadership, teamwork and creativity among under-served children in remote rural/tribal communities and in urban slums using Kathak Dance as a medium. While her heart was yearning to find more to life, she met Buddhist Teachings in 2019 and since then she has been deeply involved in understanding and practising these profound teachings. Presently, she spends her me blending Buddhist Teachings with this performing art. She also continues to teach Kathak in its traditional form through online/ offline sessions and also travels to conduct Anubhu workshops as and when her heart calls for it.
More about Annu’s work
www.annukathak.in | Instagram: @annu.kathak