The live performance, entitled Katha Kahe So Khatak, aims to show its audience that classical Indian dance is going far beyond the clichés claiming that it is slow, culturally specific and unentertaining. On the contrary, Deshpande’s production takes the spectators on a journey into the history of India and its dancing art of Khatak since its onset under the Mughal Empire, colonization, decolonization and our contemporary period that has led to modernization in Khatak. Dance, music and drama are wisely mixed in this show so that the beauty of the dance is able to resonate in everybody’s mind whatever the social background and age group.

The artist, Bakhti Deshpande, began performing Khatak at the age of 9. While studying at “ABHIJAT” Nritya Natya Sangeet Academy – founded by her parents, she trained in Hindustani vocal, Tabla, Harmonium & Dramatics. Apart from impressive dancing skills, she also learnt technical abilities such as light, sound and costume designing that has allowed her to take part in many ventures and productions by ABHIJAT and later, on her own. She played the leading role in many choreographies that travelled through prestigious stages across India. While constantly developing her dancing skills, she also participated in international short films as an actress. For instance, she gave her first shot at stage-acting by playing Kinume in Aniket Rashomon- an adaptation of the classic Japanese movie Rashomon.

The event will take place at the Indian embassy in Berlin on August 28th at 18:00. Address: Tiergartenstrasse 17. The admission, limited to 200 guests, is free but requires a valid passport or ID card.

• References: https://www.indianembassy.de/announcement_detail.php?nid=1849

News from Berlin
Louise Chancelier, Berlin Global