kalamandir | "a temple of art"
the company
Kalamandir Dance Company is a Contemporary Indian dance ensemble dedicated to community, transparency + womanhood. Led by Brinda Guha, Kalamandir is currently identifying and codifying their ideological philosophy that drives their work and carves out their space in the rich heritage of the Contemporary Indian movement umbrella. Our dancers generously offer an inspired array of dance techniques that span across the globe, and we are driven by creativity, human emotions, the feminine divine, and a desire to be released from the four walls of our daily existence. Our movement vocabulary is a collective effort that aims to create a reachable area for all people to participate and communicate.
the school
Kalamandir of NJ is a Classical Kathak dance school located in central New Jersey which aims to pass on the rich history of the North Indian classical dance as well as the specific technique of the Lucknow gharana. Under the guidance of Malabika Guha, students undergo rigorous and enlightening weekly training with the ultimate goal of becoming mature, poised “Katthakas,” or those who tell a story. While reflecting on the vast, mixed history of Kathak, which draws its influence from Hindu temples, Persian culture, and Mughal courts, Kalamandir also seeks to place Kathak on a progressive platform where the traditional aspects of its movement are intact, but the form is placed on both classical and classically-based contemporary music. With special weekly classes based in “nritta” (pure dance), “natya” (expressive dance), and contemporary composition, Kalamandir of NJ has successfully been running since 1986 and seeks to continue spreading the rich culture of Kathak for years to come.
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