If there is a will, there is a way, hence it is the mental conditioning and determination that enables you to be prepared to face any hindrance or obstacle. If you are mentally strong, you can shake the mountain too, the physique automatically gets the strength and enthusiasm to pursue the task with effortless ease, this definition aptly applies to the 71 years young Kathak dancer Dr Anuda Desai, who rendered a startling and enthusiastic performance recently at the Prabhodhan Thackeray auditorium in Borivali, West, Mumbai.

The programme was entitled “Kathak Archana” was a tribute to the Kathak mentor, Pandit Chandraprakash Sharma, who was a veteran mentor, exponent and musician from Jodhpur (Rajasthan). He was the disciple of Swami Raghuvirshan Acharya of Vrindavan and also seeked guidance from the great mentor Pandit Shambu Maharaj. Guruji also learnt Tabla from the veteran mentor Pandit Samta Prasad. Dr Anuda Desai was his ardent disciple and served him with devotion during his last five years when his health was deteorating.

Dr Anuda Desai, formerly the head of the department of physiotherapy at Breach Candy Hospital in Mumbai, after retirement, she is completely devoted to the promotion and propagation of the Kathak dance style.

She says “After a lapse of fifteen years I have started performing again and the response is amazing, thanks to my well wishers, my fine team of musicians and the blessings of my Guruji that I could perform for more than two hours”. With hardly any lapses in between, Dr Anuda performed the Ganesh Vandana, Amad, Uthan, chakkardhartode,  Maha RasParan, composition of Pt Sukhdev Maharaj, Daksha Yagna, Thumri, etc. It was startling to watch as to how Dr Anuda danced with perfection without faltering or missing out any pure dance sequences.

Anuda received fine orchestral support from Pt Ashish Ragwani who is an accomplished Tabla maestro and belongs to a family of musicians, his father is a music composer and musician too and mother is fine Kathak dancer and choreographer. Fine vocal rendering by Pt Somnath Mishra, Pakhawaj by Pt MrunalUpadhyay, Sarangi by Farukh and flute by Bharat Raj. Dr Anuda intends to perform more often and believes that “Once a dancer. Always a dancer”.

By Guru Vijay Shanker