Susanskriti: Melange of dance, music and poetry

To present a rich amalgamation of Kathak dance, music and poetry (Sufi verses), Sangeet Natak Akademi, is organising 'Susanskriti' – a monthly dance and music festival. The event will be held on July 28, 6:30 pm, at Swami Vivekananda Hall, New Delhi.

Rani Khanam, one of the most sensitive and senior Kathak exponent of India, will open the presentation with Lucknow style Kathak. The dancer will enthrall the audience through fast footwork, graceful movements, rhythmic complexity, and poetic expression.

Rani Khanam's presentation will be a sort of voyage into the Sufi stratosphere where the emotion of love traverses from earthly to ethereal plane, shaking off its temporal shackles.

Khanam has earned great name for her dexterity, subtle footwork and rhythmic patterns. Her style reflects deep comprehension of the dance tradition and is a source of inspirations to younger generation. Besides performing on unique repertoire of Sufiana poetry, she is engaged various dance related activities. The Indian and international art critics consider her an excellent and creative dancer as she is an empanelled artist in "Outstanding category" of the Indian Council for Culture Relations and "Top graded" artist at the Delhi Doordarshan.

The second presentation will be a Persian poem "Nami danam Keh Aakhir Choon Dam-e-Deedar mi raqsam', followed by the last piece where the poet begs to get a glimpse of Khuda (God), singing 'Jara kholoji kiwadia Maharaj, boloji, rakhani padegi mori laj' (open the door, my beloved, and take me unto you).

The programme will transport the audience to the realm of abstract philosophical sufi verses in an effortless manner through Kathak, revealing another dimension of Kathak which explores the Islamic and darbari aspect.