A troupe of expatriate ‘Kathak’ dancers from Muscat will head to Vietnam next weekend to participate in the India International GrooveFest where they will showcase pure forms of Indian classical dance

The Kathak dancers of Leelangika, under the guidance of their guru, Jhumpa Chakraborty are all set to participate at the India International GrooveFest (IIGF) to be held at Hanoi, Vietnam, on November 6.

The event is the seventh season of the competition, which provides a global stage for dancers with opportunities for cash prizes, recognition, and networking. It was previously held in different locations including Dubai, Thailand, and Malaysia.

The brilliance of IIGF stems from its founder and creative director, Megha Sampat, whose passion for performing arts and vision to globalise Indian talent gave birth to this iconic event.

Backed by Padanyaas Entertainment, the organisation has become a powerhouse in crafting grand-scale artistic platforms. Their commitment to inclusivity, artistic excellence, and cultural exchange has redefined how dance competitions are experienced in India.

Team Leelangika will be contesting in five different categories of Classical and Semi Classical dance. Aaheli Mitra, Ahana Roy Chowdhury, Anika Karthik, Karen Johnson, Priyanjana Ghosh and Vivaan Karthik will be competing in the Under 14yr Classical Group Dance category.

Juana Sarah Sunil will be competing in the Under 14 Classical Solo Dance category, Rupsa Mandal will be competing in the 14+ Classical Dance category, Pehel Sharma will be competing in 14+ Semi Classical Dance category and Anupama Gokul, Dilna Sujith, Dona Sarkar, Mahua Mondal Sunita Furtado and Jhumpa Chakraborty will be competing in the Superwoman category.

In a chat with Muscat Daily, Jhumpa disclosed, “It’s been 10 years now that I have been performing Kathak dance at International events abroad. We have received immense praise and recognition from the International audiences and have won several awards in International Dance competitions.

Asked if she ever blended modern dance forms with classical moves in any of her compositions, Jhump retorted, “No. I always work towards keeping Kathak dance pure and unadulterated in my choreography and performances. However, I do enjoy choreographing with other genres of music.

Key queries

Do you think there is need for a chain of academies of classical Indian dance and music all over the world under one common umbrella to keep these arts alive and passed on to upcoming generations?

Yes. If a classical dance academy is formed and it has its branches all over the world it will definitely help in promoting classical dance among the next generation.

Are your initiatives self-funded or do you get support for each participation?

Totally self-funded.

Has the decline of royal patronage been the key factor affecting the propagation of such performing arts which have to depend on sponsors?

Kathak dance has left those eras of royal patronage and moved out into the world with its beauty and heritage. The Indian government definitely supports artists but not everyone gets that support. So, most artists have to depend on company sponsorships and cultural event organisers.

What is your opinion about digital tools which offer instruction for those interested in learning ‘kathak’ without a guru?

Nowadays, online learning of dance is very popular, but I personally don’t support online learning. It makes a whole lot of difference in quality of teaching and learning when a student is physically present before their Guru and learns the lesson.

Moreover, there are technical glitches during online classes, specially in dance, where the teacher cannot see the students properly or can’t hear them properly, often due to weak internet connectivity. And that can be very frustrating.