Nagpur: Dressed in vibrant attires and shimmering ghungrus tied to their feet, guru Ruhi Masodkar and eight of her disciples gave an impressive Kathak performance with pleasing expressions and gentle movement of hands and feet in perfect synchrony, at Banyan Hall of Chitnavis Centre on Saturday.The programme, ‘Journey of Kathak’, was organized jointly by Chitnavis Centre and Nupur Kathak Kendra, founded by Masodkar, was aimed at showcasing the power of this form of dance that included Ganesh Vandana, depiction of various seasons and Madhurashtakam.An accomplished dancer, Masodkar had her lessons in Kathak from the likes of Birju Maharaj and Manisha Sathe. She started learning Kathak from the late Sadhana Nafde when she was six years old. She is currently a member of International Dance Council of Unesco.Masodkar’s solo Ganesh Vandana started on a high note, followed by performance in vilambit and madhya lay in Teen taal. This was followed by a duet performance by Amruta Hadap and Sayee Mahajan in Teen taal. Masodkar, Hadap and Mahajan’s captivating footwork left the audience in awe.The programme traced the origin of Kathak, how it developed from time to time and its significance in the modern world.Talking to TOI, Masodkar said, “These days, fusion with western forms has been the in-thing as a result of which people are a bit reluctant to watch our classical dances. Nupur Kathak Kendra, started in 2009, is wedded to the cause of preserving our culture and present dances in their pure form.”Masodkar was felicitated during the programme by Mohan Sarwate, director of Chitnavis Centre. Shweta Nagpure hosted the show.

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