Smriti Festival
The Joy of life is felt through Art. Kathak Darpan is all set with its Smriti Festival 2023 where we pay tribute to our very own Padma Vibhushan Pandit BIRJU MAHARAJ JI. Give us the joy of hosting y’all as 5 of our honourable Sangeet Natak Academy awardees and 3 Padmashree awardees grace us with their performances. Come join us and explore our Workshops, Book launch, Lecture demonstration, and more.
About
PADMAVIBUSHAN
Pandit Birju Maharaj Ji
Brijmohan Nath Mishra Maharaj, often known as Birju Maharaj Ji, was a well-known dancer and kathak instructor from India who belonged to the Kalka-Bindadin gharana of Lucknow. He began instructing dance at the age of 13, and by the time he was 28 years old, he had won the renowned Sangeet Natak Akademi Award. Over the years, Birju Maharaj Ji performed and demonstrated in several lectures and tours. He received various medals for his services to the performing arts, including one of the nation’s highest civilian honours, the Padma Vibhushan (1986), one of the highest civilian decorations.
Smriti Festival
organised by
Neha Banerjee
Artistic Director
Kathak Darpan Institute
Neha Banerjee is a Alankar in Kathak dance who is a disciple of Padma Bhushan Pandit Birju Maharajm Ji and a well expertise in Rajasthani folk, Ghumar, Chari and Kalbelia. She established the Kathak Darpan in Chennai with certification course from Akhil Bhartiya Gandharva Mahavidylaya and Kavi Kalidas Kulguru University with her own efforts. She gives free training on Kathak to under privileged kids under the Kathak Darpan Trust. Kathak Darpan has done lot of productions like Sairandhari the Musical, Dancing Waters, Students development Program and Smriti Festival under the supervision of Neha Banerjee.
- She has performed at all of India's major festivals like Khajuraho Mahotsav, Taj Mahotsav Ganga Mahotsav, and many more.
- International festivals like the Dubai Festival, New York dance festival, South Africa Durban, and many more.
- Also, "A" grade Doordarshan artist, ICCR empanelled artist conferred with Girnar Ratna in the year 2015 and Nritya Shiromani in 2016.
- She has also done Mehfil e Kathak and Pt Birju Maharajji’s workshop in Chennai in the year 2018 in Kalakshetra with 700 students from all over South India.
