Kathak exponent Rani Khanam will present “Mehfil e Safarnama”, a Kathak dance production that will highlight the several trends in performance traditions of Kathak, Gayaki, and poetry of the royal court, Mehfil of Nawabs, and courtesans till mid of 19th century time. The programme is slated to begin on February 8 at Stein Auditorium, India Habitat Centre, New Delhi at 7 pm.
Choreographed and performed by Rani Khanam herself, this production has two verses. To enhance the programme concept, the show will incorporate delicate Bhav Batana abhinaya style with Lucknow adayegi dancing elements of Kathak and Gayaki like Ghazal, Thumri, Bandish, Dadra, etc.
The audience will get to experience a dance performance that evokes the atmosphere of a ‘Mehfil’, or an intimate gathering, with subtle shades of romantic love portrayed via Kathak’s abhinaya and Lucknow-style Andaz. The entire performance will incorporate the romantic shades of poetry with their symbol and aesthetic, as well as the classic intricacies of Mehfil andaz’s Kathak.
Talking about the production, Mehfil e Safarnama, Rani Khanam, founder of Aamad Dance Centre said, “Such production is a platform to know our history, the aspects of various dancing trends and their origin in Kathak. The coming generation will get to know the dancing trends of then and now and experience the glory and essence of that era. I would like to thank all the artists who have come forward to execute this production and hope the audience will like the Mehfil e Safarnama we are going to create.”
For this performance, Rani Khanam will be accompanied by Sahbaaz Khan on Tabla, Nasir Khan on Sarangi, Shuheb Hasan on vocals among others.
