Katha Dance Theatre

Dance. Discover. Transform.Office: 5444 Orchard Avenue N., Crystal, MN 55429 | Studio: 5806 W. 36th Street, St.

Louis Park, MN 55416 | 763.533.0756 | info@kathadance.org

Press Kit

MissionKatha Dance Theatre creates, performs, and educates through the art forms of dance, music, poetry, and storytelling. Rooted in Kathak, the classical dance style of North India, KDT is dedicated to making dance accessible, inclusive and relevant. It enhances the local community by bridging diverse cultures and audiences to contribute to life’s infinite artistic expressions.

HistoryFounded in 1987 by Artistic Director Rita Mustaphi, KDT is a non-profit organization based in Crystal, Minnesota. The company was founded with the intent to advance Kathak, the classical dance tradition native to North India, and integrate it into the Twin Cities dance community. To this end, KDT offers performances, education, and other cultural activities of the highest artistic and cultural quality throughout the state of Minnesota. Furthermore, KDT is the only organization of its kind, scale and scope in the Midwest, ensuring its strong cultural and artistic impact.

The word “Kathak” is derived from the Sanskrit word “Katha,” meaning “story”. As a dance form, Kathak has its origins among traveling storytellers (called “Kathakas”) who traveled throughout India’s villages sharing dramatized versions of Hindu epics and lore using songs, gestures, and subtle expressions. Centuries of exposure to Indo-Persian cultures enriched the art form, manifesting within it a unique synthesis of Hinduism and Islam. In the 16th Century, Persian rulers introduced Kathak to the royal courts, where it acquired secular elements of sophistication, especially in its pure dance passages. Kathak expresses deep emotion, yet maintains intricate rhythmic precision and reticence in an intriguing juxtaposition of subtlety and passion.

Over the past three decades, KDT has established itself as an essential contributor to Minnesota’s thriving cultural milieu. It educates and performs regularly throughout the Twin Cities and surrounding area to critical acclaim. Priding itself on its cross-cultural collaboration, KDT has worked with organizations and theaters such as The Ordway Center for the Performing Arts, The Southern Theater, The O’Shaughnessy Theater at St. Catherine University, Zorongo Flamenco Dance Theater, the Film Society of Minneapolis/St. Paul, The Ritz Theater, The Hindu Society of Minnesota, The Loft Literary Center, Jawaahir Dance Company and Ethnic Dance Theater; with local artists such as J.D. Steele; and with international artists such as the New Delhi-based Pandit Birju Maharaj, Maitreyee Pahari, Saswati Sen, and Krishan Mohan Mishra, the London-based Kousic Sen, and the Kolkata-based Debashis Sarkar and Chandrachur Bhattacharya.

KDT’s repertoire celebrates the uniqueness of the Indian-American cultural experience as well as the historical richness of India’s Kathak tradition. The dance’s percussive nature, its elements of storytelling, poetry, mime and its interdisciplinary components make it a vibrant and powerful form of expression.

All photography is by Erik Saulitis unless otherwise noted.

Artistic ProgramsPerformances and TouringClassical Indian dance is not widely known among American audiences, most of whom likely associate Indian dance with Bollywood. KDT works to close this cultural knowledge gap by disseminating knowledge about Kathak technique, history, and cultural context through regularly performing original Kathak works

choreographed by Rita Mustaphi. Company performances have taken place at The Cowles Center for Dance and the Performing Arts, The O’Shaughnessy Theater at St. Catherine University, and countless other local arts presenters in and around the Twin Cities. In addition to featuring a unique mixture of traditional and contemporary forms of Kathak, KDT performances often include audience interaction in the form of post-show discussions or surveys. These feedback methods allow audiences to voice their opinions and engage in a dialogue with the performers, helping KDT improve the quality of their shows and ensure that audiences get as much out of their

viewing experience as possible. Additional student-only shows introduce future generations of dancers to the art form, aided by KDT-provided study guides and classroom discussion. KDT goes on occasional tours in order to more widely share the Kathak tradition, visiting theaters around the state, throughout the country, and even internationally. Furthermore, in keeping with its commitment to accessbility, KDT works to make its shows readily available to people of all physical and cognitive abilities through the use of ASL interpreters, large print programs, wheelchair-accessible ramps, and other ADA-friendly methods. In these ways, KDT performances extend beyond the usual limitations of the patron/artist relationship.

EducationKDT offers regular Kathak classes in four sessions: Fall (September through November), Winter (December through February), Spring (March through May), and Summer (June through July). Classes may range from 60 to 90 minutes long, with difficulty levels ranging from absolute beginner to advanced/professional. All classes and company rehearsals take place at KDT’s studio space in St. Louis Park, and its faculty is comprised solely of KDT company members. An annual spring showcase concludes every school year.

Master Classes, Residencies and WorkshopsKDT offers its advanced students occasional 90-minute master classes with Artistic Director Rita Mustaphi that help them refine their technique and build upon their existing skill set. KDT also offers its students frequent summer intensives, residencies, and workshops led by visiting artists, instructors, and Kathak masters. KDT dancers complete occasional residencies at universities and theaters around the country in order to make Kathak dance education widely accessible. Recent residencies have taken place at Carleton and St. Olaf Colleges, the Rochester Civic Center, and other universities and arts presenters.

Community OutreachKDT’s outreach programs enrich students’ personal growth, developing their communicative, social, physical, and cognitive skills. They include personalized dance lessons, cultural activities, and lectures pertaining

to the historical background, stories and traditions associated with Kathak. KDT provides programming targeted to a variety of age groups, from youth to senior citizens, and works to make sure that each of its programs is modified to benefit and challenge students of all physical abilities and dance backgrounds.

The ArtistsThe Company

Rita Mustaphi is a choreographer, dancer and master teacher of Kathak dance, as well as the founder of KDT. Since founding KDT in 1987, she has choreographed over fifty evening-length works that have been performed around the world — including at India’s prestigious Khajuraho Dance Festival. As a dancer, she has performed at India’s 50th Anniversary celebration at New York’s Carnegie Hall and several International Kathak Dance Festivals in New Delhi, in addition to countless KDT productions. She is a COMPAS roster artist and a recipient of three McKnight Fellowships for choreography, a Leadership award from

the Council of Asian Pacific Minnesotans, a Lifetime Achievement award from the India Association of Minnesota and a 2012 Education award from the Ordway Center for the Performing Arts.

Mukta Sathe first learned Kathak from Guru Sanjeevani Kulkarni in India, where she later won the national “Swar Sadhana” competition. She joined KDT as a student in 2004, eventually becoming a company member in 2007. Since then, she has performed in countless KDT productions as well as the prestigious Khajuraho Dance Festival and Chicago’s International Kathak Festival. She has also studied Kathak with masters like Pandit Birju Maharaj. Mukta has been a KDT instructor since 2007. Photo by Anjana Nair

Anurag Sharma joined KDT as a student in 2004 and became a company member in 2007. Throughout his many years as a professional Kathak dancer, he has studied intensively with Pandit Birju Maharaj, eventually performing with his company; danced as a guest artist with the Anila Sinha Foundation; and portrayed the lead male role in many KDT productions. In 2016, he performed in a Kathak ballet version Romeo & Juliet choreographed by Ms. Saswati Sen. In 2017, Anurag performed the lead role in Karna – The Abandoned Hero at India’s Khajuraho Dance Festival. He has been an instructor at

KDT’s school since 2009. Photo by Anjana Nair

Monica Singh began training with Rita Mustaphi at age 7, and joined KDT as a company member in 2006. She has studied Kathak with masters like Pandit Birju Maharaj and Ms. Saswati Sen. Her select performance credits with KDT include The Hungry Stones (2018) Ritu – The Seasons (2017), Sufiana – the Sufi Ecstasy (2016), Rubaiyat – Life in a Day (2014), Karna – the Abandoned Hero (2013), and In Retrospect (2012). Monica has been a KDT instructor off and on since 2012. Photo by Anjana Nair

Sarika Haris began her dance journey in India, where she studied Bharatanatyam, the South Indian classical dance style, for over nine years. She joined KDT as a student in 1999. Her selected performance credits with KDT as a company member include The Hungry Stones (2018) Ritu – The Seasons (2017), Sufiana – the Sufi Ecstasy (2016), Pourush – The Masculine (2015); Rubaiyat – Life in a Day (2014), In Retrospect (2012), and the lead role in KDT’s production of Chandalika, The Untouchable. A student of Kathak

masters Pandit Birju Maharaj and Ms. Saswati Sen, she performed in India’s Khajuraho Dance Festival in 2017. Sarika has been a KDT instructor since 2017. Photo by Anjana Nair

Nivedita Sahni first studied Kathak at the Jaipur school of Kathak dance and the Kathak Kendra School in New Delhi. Locally, she has studied under Rita Mustaphi for over six years and completed workshops with Pandit Birju Maharaj and Ms. Saswati Sen. Her performance credits with KDT include The Hungry Stones (2018) Pourush – the Masculine (2015), Ritu – The Seasons (2017), Sufiana – the Sufi Ecstasy (2016), Rubaiyat – Life in a Day (2014), and Karna – the Abandoned Hero (2013). Photo by Anjana Nair

Rupa Nair began her dance career at Mumbai’s Sri Rajarajeshwari Dance Academy, where she studied Bharatanatyam for ten years and for which she has won awards at state and district-level dance competitions. Rupa joined KDT as a student in 2012, and has since studied Kathak with Pandit Birju Maharaj and Ms. Saswati Sen. Her performance credits with KDT include a leading role in KDT’s 2015 production of Pourush – the Masculine. Rupa has been a KDT instructor since 2018. Photo by Anjana Nair

ApprenticesIf a KDT student shows an impressive level of commitment and talent in the classroom, they are hand chosen by Rita Mustaphi to become company apprentices. Company members collectively decide when an apprentice joins their ranks. Until then, they perform with the company on an as-needed basis and are often asked to practice and complete a solo performance to display their skill.

Rimika Dhara began studying Kathak in India under the guidance of Guru Bhavana Lele in 2017, and soon after joined KDT as a student. Locally, Rimika has performed for the Bengali Association of Minnesota as well as with KDT. In India, she attended workshops conducted by Pandit Birju Maharaj and Ms. Saswati Sen, and performed at several events and dance dramas in Mumbai. She is the winner of multiple international dance awards.

Anisha Sharma began studying Kathak with Rita in 2009 and has since studied with masters like Pandit Birju Maharaj and Ms. Saswati Sen. Her performance credits with KDT include

Rubaiyat – Life in a Day (2014), Pourush – The Masculine (2015), and The Hungry Stones (2018).

Madhulika Srikanth comes to KDT with twelve years of India-based Kathak study under her belt. In addition to studying with instructors Upasana Tiwari, Manjiri Kiran Mahajani, Pandit Birju Maharaj and Ms. Saswati Sen, she has performed in Indian events like the Uday Shankar Ballet Festival in Kolkata and Hori in Jaipur. She made her debut with KDT in 2017’s Ritu – The Seasons.

Photo by Anjana Nair

Current RepertoryBlack CandleBased on poetry by award-winning author and activist Chitra Banerkee Divakaruni, Black Candle honors the lives and sacrifices of South Asian women through dance. Its themes range from experiencing joy in marriage to breaking free from the bonds of rituals, caste and religion. Run time: 75 minutes

The Hungry StonesBased on a short story by legendary Bengali author Rabindranath Tagore, The Hungry Stones tells the story of a tax collector’s obsession with the ghost world he encounters in an ancient palace. The show also touches on universal themes pertaining to regret, passion, and the role natural elements play as witnesses to history. Run time: 75 minutes

Kathak Yatra – The Journey of Kathak DanceKathak Yatra offers glimpses of the evolution of Kathak dance through time, starting in the temple period, evolving through the royal courts of the kings and emperors, and ending with today’s proscenium stages! Run time: 75 minutes

Ritu – The SeasonsRitu – The Seasons is a vivid portrayal of the Indian seasonal cycle, both expanding and subverting American expectations. Based on the work of the great Sanskrit poet Kalidasa, Ritu depicts the six Indian seasons in a lyrical manner, including elements of nature and love within beautiful and intricate Kathak choreography. Run time: 75 minutes

Critical Consensus“Performed with unfailing graciousness, Katha Dance Theatre takes an evocative art form and makes it

vibrantly real.” ... “The complexity and power of Katha Dance Theatre’s stories are fully realized in their dynamic, percussive dance sequences.”– The Minneapolis StarTribune (Minneapolis, MN)

“Katha Dance Theatre’s Indian dance-dramas transport audiences to another world. It is a joy to experience the elegance in their productions, choreographic precision, and artistic integrity. Furthermore, their ability to string together current themes in an ancient art form is extremely courageous and praiseworthy.”– The Boston Group (Boston, MA)

“Katha Dance Theatre is dazzlingly proficient in the dramatic and virtuosic style of Indian classical dance, while being adept of taking English speaking audiences into the literary wellsprings of classical Indian dance performances.”– The Octopus (Champaign, IL)

“Katha Dance Theatre’s pieces capture both the fragile emotions of oppressed women and their boundless inner strength that holds the key to their emancipation and happiness.”– The Appleton Post-Crescent (Appleton, WI)

General Technical RequirementsPreferred Stage Dimensions: KDT requests a 40-foot proscenium stage that is 32 feet wide at the wings and 25 feet deep from the front of the curtain to last working line set.

Floor: KDT dancers perform barefoot. Interior floor options include wood or Marley while exterior floor options include large wooden platforms (free of raised nail heads) or soft concrete, as used in gymnasiums or museums.

Sound System: KDT does not possess its own sound system. Presenters must provide the company with all necessary equipment.

Lighting Equipment: KDT does not carry lighting equipment necessary for performing repertory. Presenters must be able to provide the company with all necessary lighting equipment.

Further InquiriesIf you would like to book KDT, request our full technical rider, register for a class, rent our studio space, or learn more about what we do, please email us at info@kathadance.org, call us at (763) 533-0756, visit our website at kathadance.org, and follow us on social media.

@kathadancetheatre

@kathadance

This acticvity is made possible by the voters of Minnesota through grants from the Minnesota State Arts Board and the Metropolitan Regional Arts Council, thanks to a legislative appropriation from the arts and cultural heritage fund; and thanks to grants from the McKnight Foundation; Carolyn Foundation, Target Foundation; Dr. Dash Foundation; and by the generosity of KDT’s private donors.