Past Events of Kathak Kendra
27th August, 2016 | Deekshant Samaroh
The convocation Ceremony “Deekshant Samaroh” is an annual event of Kathak Kendra, which is being organised by Kendra since the year 2001. As the name suggests during the event pass out students of various courses like 3-Year Diploma (Hons.), 2-Year Post Diploma and 5-Year Diploma (Tabla) are awarded Diplomas by the Chief Guests on successfully completion of their courses.
Exponents coming from various art fields are invited as Chief Guests to award the Diplomas and give the Convocation address to these Graduates, who even feel much prouder to receive Diplomas from their hands.
This Year Deekshant Samaroh 2016 was organised at Vivekanand Hall, Kathak Kendra, 2, San Martin Marg, Chanakyapuri, New Delhi. Padma Vibhushan and Sangeet Natak Akademi Awardee Odissi Dancer Dr. Sonal Mansingh was the Chief Guest who alongwith, Ms. Kamalini Asthana (Chairperson, Advisory Committee, Kathak Kendra), Smt. Rita Swamy Choudhary (Secretary, Sangeet Natak Akademi) and Shri B.B. Chugh, Director, Kathak Kendra inaugurated the event by Lighting the Lamp.
Kathak Kendra’s students presented Saraswati Vandana under the direction of Shri Rakesh Kumar Pathak, Gayan Prashikshak.
Ms. Kamalini Asthana gave welcome speech and congratulated all the Graduates for their achievements.
Dr. Sonal Mansingh awarded the Diplomas to the Graduates and blessed them for their future in her convocation speech.
Later on few of this year’s Graduates gave performances which included :-
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Tabla Solo by Shri Yogesh, Diploma (Tabla) - Final Year, under the direction Guru Nirmal Mondal, Tabla Prashikshak
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Shri Shamik Chanda, Diploma (Hons.) - Final Year, under the direction of Guru Krishan Mohan Mishra began his performance with Guru Vandana, afterwards presented some Bandish in “Taal Dhamaar” and finished his performance with an item based on the poem of Guru Rabindra Nath Tagore “Nirjhorer Shopnobhongo”.
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Mayuri Vibhute Mahadev, Post Diploma - Final Year, under the direction of Guru Guru Jai Kishan Maharaj presented 13 matras and ended her performance with a Thumri of her Guru.
Smt. Rita Swamy Choudhary gave the Vote of Thanks and concluded the event.
23rd - 25th September, 2016 | KATHAK UTSAV at Allahabad
Kathak Kendra organized its Kathak Utsav in collaboration with Prayag Sangit Samiti, Allahabad on 23 - 25 September, 2016 at Mehta Auditorium, 12-C Kamla Nehru Road, Allahabad the programme was as follows :-
Programme :
Inauguration
- Ms. Kamalini Asthana, Chairperson Advisory Committee, Kathak Kendra
- Shri Milan Mukherjee, Chairman Prayag Sangit Samiti
23 September, 2016, 6.00 p.m.
Dviayam : Presentation by Kathak Kendra’s students
Direction : Guru Prerana Shrimali
Solo : Sangeeta Dastidar, Varanasi
Trivat : Presentation by Kathak Kendra’s students
Direction : Guru Rajendra Kumar Gangani
24 September, 2016
Duet : Shivalika Kataria & Vishvdeep
Solo : Jyotika Joshi, Singapore
Taleem : Presentation by Kathak Kendra’s students
Direction : Guru Krishan Mohan Mishra
25 September, 2016
Tarana : Presentation by Kathak Kendra’s students
Direction : Guru Jai Kishan Maharaj
Duet : Vaibhav Krishan Maharaj & Vasudev Krishan Maharaj, Mumbai
Taal Varna & Bajaat Taal : Presentation by Repertory Kathak Kendra
Direction : Guru Jaikishan Maharaj
15th - 17th October, 2016 | KATHAK UTSAV at Jaipur
Kathak Kendra organized its Kathak Utsav in collaboration with Jaipur Kathak Kendra on 15-17 October, 2016 at Jawahar Kala Kendra, Rangayan Auditorium, Jaipur the programme was as follows :-
Programme :
Inauguration
- Ms. Kamalini Asthana, (Chairperson) Advisory Committee, Kathak Kendra
Morning special session at 11.00 a.m.
Lecture - Demonstration by Senior Gurus “Kathak Nritya ki Lokpriyta ke Pahaluo Par”
- Shri Krishan Mohan Mishra - Lucknow Gharana
- Ms. Nalini – Banaras Gharana
- Shri Jayant Kastuar - Jaipur Gharana
Evening Programme :
15th October, 2016, 6.00 p.m.
Solo : Jyoti Singh, Delhi
Solo : Sumedha Gupta, Khairagarh
Group Choreography “Samagam” : Students of Kathak Kendra, New Delhi
Direction : Guru Rajendra Kumar Gangani
Group Choreography “Ritu Chakra” : Students of Jaipur Kathak Kendra
Direction : Smt. Rekha Thakker (Grishm Ritu Direction – Shri Rajkumar Javda)
16th October, 2016, 6.00 p.m.
Duet : Rekha Thakker & Rajkumar Javda, Jaipur
Solo : Harish Gangani, Delhi
Solo : Ren Pahari (Bassi), Delhi
Group Choreography “Nachat Sudhang” : Students of Kathak Kendra, New Delhi
Direction : Guru Prerana Shrimali
17th October, 2016, 6.00 p.m.
Solo : Shahbaz Sheikh, Mumbai
Solo : Sarita Kalele, Thane
Group Choreography “BaajatTaal” : Repertory Kathak Kendra, New Delhi
Direction : Guru Jai Kishan Maharaj
28th October, 2016 | Presentation “Ramayan”
The first presentation of the its newly formed Repertory on the eve of Deepawali ‘Ramayan’ on 28th October, 2016 at Vivekanand Auditorium, Kathak Kendra, 2 San Martin Marg, Chankyapuri, New Delhi 110021 in the Direction of Guru Jai Kishan Maharaj.
28th November, 2016 | Visit of Chineese Delegation
A High Powered Delegation of Music & Dance led by Beijing Dance Academy, China visited Kathak Kendra on 28 th November, 2016 morning to preview Kathak Dance classes and also witnessed the performances of the Repertory. The names of the delegates are:-
- Ms. Deng Youling (Vice President of Beijing Dance Academy and Principaly of the Research Center for MinZu Dance)
- Mr. Gao Du (Chief Expert of the Research Center for MinZu Dance)
- Ms. Y an Jing (Deputy Director of Research Office)
- Ms. Chang Yiyun (Secretary of the Research Center for MinZu Dance)
Delegates also exchanged their views with Kendra’s Gurus, Director and Chairperson of the Advisory Committee, Kathak Kendra
2nd January, 2017 | Stambkaya

On the eve of New Year, Kathak Kendra organized a programme “Stambakaya” on 2nd January, 2017. The items namely Aum, Chaturvarnaa, Thumri Malika, Taal Varnaa, Utsav were presented by the Artist of Kendra’s Repertory namely:-Ms. Jaya Bhatt, Ms. Shipra Joshi, Ms. Anupama Kaushik, Ms. Nilakshi Khandkar, Shri Vishvadeep, Shri Mukesh Gangani and Shri Avinav Mukherjee.
Choreographed By : Guru Jai Kishan Maharaj
Chairperson, Kathak Kendra grace the function.
9th & 10th January, 2017 | Presentations - JNMDA Group
On the Second day they continued with different items in Thang Ta followed by Pung Cholom & Raas Leela by students of JNMDA.
It was a delightful experience for all the students at Kendra to get a beautiful insight of this amazing dance form.




11th & 12th March, 2017 | Rangotsav
This Dance Drama presentation was done by Kathak Kendra Repetoire and also the students of the Kendra. Concept & Music by Pt Birju Maharaj, Choreography by Jai Kishan Maharaj.




27th, 28th & 1st March, 2017 | Kathak Mahotsav
Kathak Mahotsav being the prime festival, marks the annual celebration of Kathak at the national level. It is an attempt to bring the kathak fraternity under one umbrella. This year the festival was conceived in a manner to bring to you some exquisite fragrances from artists across styles, regions and generations depicting the Antique Traditional Aspects of Kathak i.e. Kathak Nritya ki Purani Parampargat Rachnaien. In addition to the beautiful evening performances, 2 days morning session of ‘Baithki Bhaav’ is also being presented by some renowned kathak gurus such as Smt Kumudini Lakhia ,Smt Shashi Sankhla, Smt Nandini Singh & Shri Ashok Maharaj at the Vivekananda Auditorium.
27, 28 & 1st March, 2017 at Kamani Auditorium.
Names of Artists are as below:
Nandita Puri-solo
Mata Prasad & Ravi Shankar Mishra- Duet
‘Vivaksha’ by disciples of Prerana Shrimali
Ravi Shankar Upadhyay- Solo Pakhawaj
V Anuradha Singh-solo
Malti Shyam & Shailja Bisht- Duet
‘Guru Bin Aisi Kaun Kare’ by disciples of Rajendra Gangani
Kukum Dhar- solo
Amira Patankar & Avani Gadre-duet
‘Paramparik Kathak Nritya’ by disciples of Jai Kishan Maharaj
‘Swayambhu’ by Kathak Kendra Repertory