An ode to my Guru

I have been an avid lover of kathak dance since the age of 9...I remember walking into Nupur Dance Academy,Kolkata holding my mother's ( she has the rare accomplishment of being a lady sarod player trained by none other than legendary Radhubabu)hands and instantly falling in love with the informal ambience.My guru Smt Bandana Sen took one look at me and immediately took me into her folds.Thus started my love affair with kathak...

Sen is a disciple of legendary kathak exponent Sambhu Maharaj of Lucknow gharana. She had her early training in Jaipur gharana from Jaikumari Debi.A recipient of a gold medal from Indian President Dr. Rajendra Prasad, Sen is currently a judge for the National Program of Dance in India’s national television channel Doordarshan, and sits on the advisory committee member of Kolkata Doordarshan. She is also a judge on behalf of the federal government for the National Talent Search Contest, and a member of the board of studies at Rabindra Bharati University in Kolkata.Sen’s interpretation is impressive yet accessible, with particularly graceful and poetic exposition of bhava (expression). Her distinct bols on different talas, Urdu shayari and songs are also impressive.In her career of 53 years, she has presented nearly 5,000 performances throughout India and abroad, including all prestigious music conferences of India. She went to East Germany as the cultural ambassador of India. She has also visited Austria, the erstwhile Soviet Union, Germany, the United States and Canada on several occasions.Sen’s leading disciple Suchandra Banerjee assists her in running her dance school Nupur Dance Academy in Kolkata. Her devotion to dance and her guruji is complete and unconditional.

My guru's movements are so graceful and her stamina at that age is remarkable...really there is no need for words when shen dances...

As a tutor she blended harshest criticism with heart melting love and affection ...every time i performed on stage i could see her eyes focus on my feet movement...and the moment the performance was over she would point out the minutest misses...

At the dance school we were like one big family sharing our sorrows and happiness together...

Thus i grew in an environment of studies and dance and also classical music.Life could not have been better...

But then I really grew up and got married....which was followed by intricacies of job and relocations and motherhood...twelve years of my love affair with kathak suddenly took a back seat behind all responsibilities....

Now six years after my last tryst with dance i still cannot forgive myself for having given up on the passion ....maybe it is still not too late...maybe in this new city i can still rekindle my old love and start dancing all over again....oh my heart flutters at that thought!!

if any of you are lucky to be in kolkata here is her contact:
Bandana Sen
"The Nupur Dance Academy"
47, Chakraberia Road (S) Kolkata 700025 Ph: (033) - 4752343