Kathak dancer and anthropologist Pallabi Chakravorty remembers growing up in two distinct social spheres in Kolkata. The liberal environment at Jadavpur University’s English literature classrooms existed in stark contrast to the rigid, conservative conditions of her traditional Kathak training. The artiste’s jugalbandi between critical thinking and tradition, spanning nearly three decades, will be unveiled at a candid interaction tomorrow in the city.

“Guru-shishya parampara, the gharana system, and the confines of a handful of themes that performers usually explore, are all widely-accepted traditions in performing arts circles. But nobody asks why they exist, what social phenomena have cemented these ideas, and if they can be ever stepped out of,” shares Chakravorty, whose interest in anthropology led her into a rabbit hole of similar questions.