Padmashree Shovana Narayan’s scintillating Kathak performance enthralls students of Gurgaon
Gurgaon: In an attempt to sensitize students about Indian culture, Gurgaon-based Suncity School organized a SPICMACAY programme. Renowned danseuse and Padma Shree awardee Shovana Narayan enthralled students at Suncity School, Gurgaon with her scintillating Kathak performance.
The audience, including students from Shiv Nadar School, Amity International a 25-member delegation from Lycee L’Oiselet, France, sat glued to their seats as she kick-started her performance through a prayer to Lord Vishnu and narrated the piece of Draupadi’s cheerharan from the Mahabharat through her performance. She also performed the rhythmic patterns of various animals asking students to guess them.
“Kathak is a 2500-year-old dance form. It completely reinvigorates me and it is a pleasure to perform before students,” said Shovana Narayan.
Trained under Guru Birju Maharaj, Shovana Narayan hails from Lucknow and Jaipur Gharana of Kathak. A former Indian Accounts and Audit service officer, she is a role model for youth for combining two parallel careers with dignity. As a ‘Choreographer-Performer’, Shovana Narayan has spearheaded and produced international collaborative works with leading dancers of Western Classical Ballet, Spanish Flamenco, Tap dance, Buddhist chants with Buddhist Monks as well as to the compositions of western Classical composers. She has also authored several books on dance.
Shovana Narayan has several accolades to her credit, chief among them being Padma Shri, Sangeet Natak Award, Parishad Samman Rajiv Smriti Puraskar and Bihar Gaurav Puraskar.
“At Suncity School, we strive to create a balance between academics and extra-curricular activities. Indian classical dance is the foundation of our culture and such a scintillating performance speaks volumes about our Indian culture. We will continue in our endeavor to instill appreciation about Indian culture among students,” said Rupa Chakravarty, Principal, Suncity School.
“Shovana ma’am’s performance left me spellbound. Since I am also learning Kathak, she is my role model. Her ability to harmoniously integrate two careers is inspiring,” said Tarini Khatri, a student of Suncity School.
“I thoroughly enjoyed the performance. This is something which I saw for the first time. She was very elegant in all her moves. I look forward to attending more cultural events during my stay in India,” said Fadi, a French student.