On the fourth day of Gamak series, Ustad Alauddin Khan Academy of Music and Arts presented 'Lecture and Kathak Dance' by Suchitra Harmalkar, Indore.
The presentation began with Ganesh Vandana by Goswami Tulsidas. Afterwards Taal Paksha in Taal Trital - Restrictions of Raigad Gharana, Kavitta and Gatnikara, Krishna Bhakti post - Thani Kai-Kai Bol Sunava, c. Sita Swayamvar etc. based on the Marathi song Ramayana theme composed by Malgulkar.
In her lecture while interacting with the audience along with the dance performance, Harmalkar, while explaining the characteristics of the rhythm side of Raigad dance house, said that Raigad is a unique style of energy, enthusiasm and aesthetic sense as compared to other styles of Kathak. He recalled his Guru Pandit Ramlal and said that Guruji himself created many restrictions and cremated us. Harmalkar stopped his presentation with Tarana.
Suchitra Harmalkar, lead artist, Yogita Mandlik, Ashima Kotwal, Aparna Sanap, Ami Jain and Falguni Joshi performed the dance on stage.
She was accompanied with Smita Vajpayee on Sitar, Falguni Joshi on Padhant, Mayank Swarnakar on Singing and Mrinal Nagar performed on the tabla.
Harmalkar is a Kathak artist representing the Raigad family of Kathak. She has performed dances on many prestigious forums in the country, you remove the rare tough restrictions of Raigad very easily and through the use of obsolete compositions of Raigad King 'Raja Chakradhar Sing', you are popular in the Kathak world.
She is also a skilled choreographer and a great teacher. Harmalkar received a Junior Fellowship by the Government of India for her research in dance. He received his doctorate under the direction of Puru Dadhich on the subject of 'Review of Lasya Manjari'. She is a member of the Board of Studies of several universities of Madhya Pradesh.
