Leela Dance Collective presents ReSound, a celebration of kathak dance, featuring street performances and workshops to educate and inspire audiences of all ages. The public is invited to experience North Indian classical dance as it reverberates through the streets of San Francisco.
In San Francisco, free street performances will take place at such iconic locations as Union Square, Japantown Peace Plaza, UC Berkeley, and Lake Merritt in Oakland showcasing kathak dance at its best, including percussive footwork, swift pirouettes, dynamic repertoire, and exhilarating music. The workshops are a great opportunity for individuals to experience kathak first hand, the way that kathak dance can ground the body, focus the mind, and uplift the spirit. Workshops are held at some of the Bay Area's most popular studios, including LEVYstudio in San Francisco. The concept and arrangement of the ReSound repertoire is curated by Rina Mehta, senior disciple of kathak legend Pandit Chitresh Das and cofounder of the critically acclaimed Leela Dance Collective. ReSound showcases Das’s original compositions and choreography, while featuring a new generation of emerging kathak dancers trained in his iconic style – Sonali Toppur, Ahana Mukherjee, Carrie McCune, and Ria DasGupta.
All performances are free and open to the public, and all workshops are $10. Register to attend a free street performance and get a discount code for Leela Academy’s fall session and register for a workshop to save your spot – availability is limited.
About kathak dance: Kathak (pronounced cut - tuck) comes from the word katha, meaning story, and a kathaka is a storyteller. The dance form can be traced back to kathakas from 400 BCE who were the traveling storytellers and artists of ancient India. During the Mughal Empire (1526-1857), kathak was a form of entertainment for the great emperors of India. In modern times, the art form has emerged on the presidium stage and traveled outside of India, finding expression in diasporic communities throughout the US and beyond. It is one of the eight classical dance forms of India, and encompasses a wide range of performance styles that can be divided into two main categories, storytelling (nritya), and dance without explicit narrative (nritt). One of kathak’s most notable characteristics is the fast, percussive footwork dancers perform by striking their bare feet on the floor using various techniques. In addition, it is known for swift pirouettes, a dynamic movement vocabulary, and compelling character portrayal. Kathak is typically performed with North Indian classical Hindustani music, which provides an exhilarating soundscape and a very collaborative environment for the artists. Dancers wear a string of 150-200 bells around each ankle to ornament their footwork and movements, and to highlight the rhythmic sophistication of the artform.
WHERE: Free Performances
Friday, Sept 17, 12-noon & 1:30 p.m.: Union Square, 333 Post Street, SF
Friday, Sept 17, 5:00 p.m.: UC Berkeley Campus, Berkeley
Saturday, Sept 18, 11:30 a.m.: Snow Park, Lake Merritt, Oakland
Saturday, Sept 18, 2:30 p.m.: Japantown Peace Plaza, 1610 Geary Blvd., SF
Workshops - $10
Bare Feet Beats: Friday, Sept 17, 6:30-7:30 p.m., UC Berkeley
Dive into the dynamic world of kathak. Move, groove, jam and slam as you learn how to make rhythm and music with your bare feet. Students of all levels and backgrounds are welcome.
Rhythm & Rhyme: Saturday, Sept 18, 10:30-11:30 a.m., Lake Merritt, Oakland
Explore storytelling through rhythm, movement, music and poetry. Join us for an engaging and interactive workshop by the lake and dive into the dynamic world of kathak. Open to kids and adults. No prior training is needed.
Movement, Music & Meditation: Saturday, Sept 18, 4-5 p.m., LEVY Studio, 460 Gough St., SF
Discover the beauty and dynamism of kathak. Workshop participants are introduced to the technique, movement, music and poetry of the art form woven together into an experience that is meditation in motion.
Fables & Feet: Sunday, Sept 19, 2:30-3:30 p.m., DC Dance Center, 1555 Washington Ave, San Leandro
Join us as we explore the fantastic fables of India in this introductory workshop to kathak for children ages 5 and up to experience the movement and music of kathak and explore creative expression as they dive into the rich world of Indian fables.
Before Bollywood: Sunday, Sept 19, 4-5 p.m., DC Dance Center, 1555 Washington Ave, San Leandro
Before Bollywood there was kathak, known for its grandeur, beauty, and elegance. Join us for a workshop that introduces you to the movement, music and expression of this dynamic art form. Students of all levels and backgrounds are welcome.