Old stage, new steps

Uma Dogra, Parshwanath Upadhye and Rajashri Praharaj

The rest of the world might need a Gregorian calendar to plan daily life. Not artistes. They track days and seasons on a cultural calendar. And so, veteran Kathak dancer Uma Dogra smells basant in a carnival she hosts in the loving memory of her guru. It's the 32nd year of Pt Durgalal Festival, dedicated to the Kathak legend, and Dogra notes, "Three generations of dancers and musicians have performed on this stage. There has never been a break. We adapted to the unforeseen constraints and held a digital festival for two years. While that gave artistes reason to believe they'll be back on stage someday, it garnered no monetary support. The passage from a lull to a physical show was difficult for me." The dancer says she knew things would fall in place: "I believe in the power of my guru's blessings".

Rajashri Praharaj - an exponent of the Kelucharan Mohapatra gharana of Odissi, Parshwanath Upadhye - a revered name in Mysore-style Bharatnatyam, and Kathak dancer Gauri Sharma Tripathi will be performing at the event. Praharaj says she is excited to meet a live audience in Mumbai. "I will present Vinayaka Smarane [an invocation to Lord Ganesha], a one-of-a-kind nine-beat Pallavi on raag Charukeshi, and a rendition of Shankaracharya's ananda lahari," she adds.

On March 11, 7.15 pm
At Swatantryaveer Savarkar Auditorium, Dadar.
Cost Rs 300