This workshop is an introduction to Kathak, a dance style that was born in the temples of North India almost 2,500 years ago. Learn about its journey through the centuries, from ancient temple courtyards to medieval royal courts to modern concert halls, and try out some signature steps, rhythms, poses, and hand gestures that Kathak dancers employ to bring stories of gods and goddesses to life, as well as to aid their own contemporary artistic expressions and storytelling.
Free
Grant support provided by Erie Arts & Culture
Anupama Srivastava is a San Francisco Bay Area based critically acclaimed Kathak artist, Founder and Artistic Director of InSyncKathak Dance School, and a senior disciple of Padmashri Dr. Shovana Narayan.
Anupama’s artistry is a powerful intersection of tradition, empathy, innovation, and meaningful personal and social expression. As a choreographer, she demonstrates stunning story-telling prowess, delivered with a perfect blend of soul and technique by a well-trained ensemble. As a collaborator, Anupama has co-produced artistic works with musicians and dancers of different genres. As an educator, Anupama provides training in the Lucknow Gharana style of Kathak through classes, workshops and lecture-demonstrations.
Anupama is a Master Artist recognized by the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts and is a grant recipient along with Dr. Anjali Sahay. She received the APICC grant to present her production "Pravaasi" at SFIAF in 2024. She received the Kala Bharati Award in 2024 for her contributions to the dance world. Further reflecting her commitment to excellence, four of her students are National YoungArts Foundation awardees, including Reva Srivastava, 2022 US Presidential Scholar in the Arts.
Under Anupama’s visionary leadership, InSyncKathak has emerged as a premier institution known for its high-caliber training, powerful stage presentations, and community engagement, earning over 60 prestigious awards, presenting more than 300 performances across the globe, and cultivating a vibrant community of 150+ dedicated students. InSyncKathak has brought the elegance of Kathak to world-renowned stages including Carnegie Hall, San Francisco International Arts Festival, New York Kathak Festival, Drive East Festival, National YoungArts Week Miami, Philadelphia Ganesh Festival, Sacramento Dance Sampler, San Francisco Movement Arts Festival, Oakland Dance Festival, and the Toronto International Youth Dance Festival, to name a few.