ISLAMABAD: Kathak great enthrals art buffs in Islamabad
By Mobarik Virk
ISLAMABAD, April 22: Indian kathak protagonist Dr Uma Sharma paid adieu to the art lovers and citizens of the federal capital on the last day of her two-day visit to the city by presenting a captivating and enlightening kathak dance here on Thursday night.
The almost 150-minute non-stop performance by Dr Uma Sharma, the winner of India's highest award, Padma Bhushan, was entertaining, educative, inspiring and motivating. She was graceful, drawing all the respect from a select audience at the National Library auditorium.
Her movements reflected years of practice and perfection of a person who has devoted herself to learn from her 'gurus' and emulate them. And yet she was most humble. There were few in the audience who could understand the art of kathak dance and its history and Dr Sharma was eager to explain each and every step and movement as well as history of the art to create awareness.
It was not just a dance performance but a lecture on the kathak dance and its history. She explained and then performed various forms of the art. The narration and performance of the Holy festival with its religious background and its cultural aspects was simply beautiful.
Her movements were fluid and she seemed to be floating all over the stage, which at times seemed too small for her. The presentation of the story of the creation of woman, the depiction of Meera's devoted love for Krishna despite the fact that the feelings and emotions were not being reciprocated kept the audience hushed.
Kathak is not simply a dance but an expression of feelings and emotions through eyes, face and limbs, Dr Uma Sharma explained. The story of motherly affection towards a naughty child caught in the middle of a mischief without a word being uttered was most entertaining.
She explained how her 'gurus' taught her to use her eyes and brows to express different human feelings - love, displeasure, hate, laughter, surprise, fear, shock, awe, power and strength. "Eyes tell all. They reflect the true emotions. Only one needs to know how to use them and my 'gurus', taught me this art," she said.
She described Mirza Ghalib her favourite poet and sang and danced on two famous ghazals of the legendary poet. She wrapped up a successful tour with a message of love, and a desire for the peoples of the two countries to get closer and put an end to the differences and move forward together.
Dr Uma Sharma was accompanied by Ustad Mubarak Ali on 'tabla', Imran Khan on 'harmonium'/vocalist and Khalid Mustafa on 'sitar' along with Zaheer Khan an artist from Delhi. Speaking briefly after her performance Dr Uma Sharma said she enjoyed her visit to Pakistan and would love to return many more times to the country. "You keep inviting me and I would keep coming here. Nothing can stop us now," she said.
Indian Deputy High Commissioner, Shri Raghwan, was the guest of honour at the function. "There is no need to speak after Uma Sharma's performance. It was a beautiful evening and we would continue to do what we can to promote such activities between the two countries," Mr Raghwan said.
