Photo: FacebookThiruvananthapuram: She was a crazy fan of southern classical dance, Bharatanatyam once.
Its colourful costumes and rhythmic movements mesmerised her as a child.
But, when initiated into the world of 'bhav' and 'mudras' of Kathak by her 'gurus,' this Lucknow girl began to mesmerise the world with her brilliance in both classical and contemporary genres of the ancient dance.
Her daring experiments in choreography and attempt to mix modernity with the traditional dance has won her disciples world over and helped open 'gurukuls' (schools) in multiple countries.
And, acclaimed Kathak dancer and choreographer, Pali Chandra says her dream is always to be a 'kathakar,' the story teller, who tells stories that can make a difference in the society.
The word 'kathak' had been derived from the very word 'katha' (story), the 51-year-old artist belonging to the famed 'Lucknow Gharana,' a prominent Kathak school, said.
"I am a story teller.. but my stories are not always rooted in tradition and the past. As it should also be about what is today and what are we doing today to make our tomorrow," Chandra told PTI here in an interview.
Sharing her views on the traditional dance, the exponent, who is now settled in Switzerland, said 'Kathak' is all about what is happening right now in the society.
The art form is a mirror of the society, whether good or bad, she said.
"I am supposed to be talking about the issues that make a difference in the society. I am not supposed to be always talking about Mahabharatha and Ramayana. That I do not think is my job," she said.
A disciple of maestros like Guru Vikram Singh, Pandit Ram Mohan Maharaj and Kapila Raj, Chandra said the centuries-old dance form gives the performer and the choreographer liberty to talk about relevant issues through its traditional platform.
"So, it is not just about past and the present, but about future also," she added.
Stating that she used to utilise the platform to convey socially relevant messages, Chandra cited the example of the presentation of 'Govardhan Leela', the puranic episode regarding Lord Krishna lifting up the mountain named 'govardhan.'
"Instead of just telling the story, I used to give stress on the essence of the story. While stressing on Lord Krishna's advice to people to pray to the mountain, trees, birds and rivers... we can convey to the audience the need to conserve our environment," she said.
Also an art educationalist, Chandra recently launched an online programme to connect with her disciples world over and spread the legacy of the traditional dance.
Titled 'Learn Kathak,' the programme comprises a series of videos in which she features as a guru and imparts lessons of the classical dance.
Since its launch, the online programme has won 50,000 subscribers within 18 months on YouTube channel.
The videos are accessible free of cost with one lesson every week.
The state-based Invis Multimedia is partnering with" Chandra and offering her the relevant ICT Solutions for making the videos.
The dancer, who was here to shoot another series of online sequence for the programme, said she was happy to hear people calling her their 'online guru.'
"My aim is to touch as much as people through art and to give them power to express themselves. I am so happy to know that thousands of people are benefiting the platform," she added.
Pali Chandra is the artistic director of 'Gurukul Dubai'and 'Gurukul Switzerland,' the Kathak schools.
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