Prisha Thakkar is a multi-faceted personality, who rendered a vivacious debut kathak performance at the Mukesh Patel auditorium, Vile Parle (West) in Mumbai on Sunday 24th July 2022.

It was an unusual and unique occasion, as the stage and auditorium was aesthetically decorated with flowers. The audience cheered and applauded the moment Prisha commenced her performance with the invocatory Shiva Stuti, reaching out to the Almighty for blessings and divine intervention.

Prisha is the disciple of accomplished Kathak exponent and teacher Dr Tina Tambe and is the daughter of Bijal and Bhavesh Thakkar. Prisha says "I believe dance is a hidden language of the soul".

Prisha is a Visharad in Kathak with distinction from Gandharva Mahavidyalaya and has been learning dance from a tender age. Prisha danced several pure dance numbers that revealed her considerable command over complex rhythmic patterns, expressional numbers describing Lord Krishna, the ten incarnations of Lord Vishnu, Tarana and Meera bhajan that interpreted the devotion of the saint poetess for Lord Krishna. Prisha also danced the "Teratali" popular folk dance of Rajasthan and the dance of Maharashtra in praise of Lord Ganesha. Jugalbandi in Bharata Natyam by Bijal Thakkar and Kathak by Prisha, choreographed by Nilesh Singha and Tina Tambe was another highlight of the programme. Most striking was her complete involvement and sincerity.

Prisha was musically supported by Guru Dr Tina Tambe for "padant" (rhythmic recitation), melodious vocal by Vaibha Mankad, commendable Tabla by Satypraksh Mishra, melodious Sitar by Alka Gujar and beautiful flute by Sahashak Acharya. Dr Tina Tambe has performed for some of the prestigious festivals in India and abroad and is the director of Ninad Centre for Performing Arts.

Prisha has won over 35 medals in district and state level skating championship, for seven consecutive years, and has participated in the Artistic Roller Skating National Championship and is the youngest girl in Maharashtra to win the championship.

Prisha holds a bachelor's degree in dancing and has learnt 15 western and Indian dance styles that includes folk dances. An elated Prisha says “If you have a will, there is always a way, you should be mentally prepared to do well in life, which is very important" .

Prisha has participated in Olympiads of mathematics, science and economics and has successfully completed 7 grades of Speech and Drama from Trinity College of London.

Prisha aspires to become a professional Chartered Accountant and join her father's company, who is a professional chartered accountant, but is quite passionate about dancing as well and says that her mother and her Guru Dr Tina Tambe are the inspirations to do well in life. Nevertheless, there is no cost accounting as far as the arts are concerned which is priceless and invaluable and the expressions of the soul.

The Guests of Honour were actress and kathak exponent Aditi Bhagwat, Kuchipudi exponent and eminent arts critic, Guru Vijay Shanker, actress Gauhar Khan and MK Patel of Patel Cultural Foundation. The compere for the evening was Nisha Nair. A

Vote of Thanks was given by Bhavesh Thakkar and Aarav Thakkar, younger brother of Prisha, who reached out to the audience with his heart touching speech.

On the whole it was a grand programme.

By Guru Vijay Shankar