Co-produced by the Aga Khan Museum and Toronto-based dance company Pratibha Arts, Tarana is a video project focused on engaging audiences with South Asian dance while equipping viewers with educational tools to further the awareness and appreciation of the Kathak tradition.
This piece brings to life the grandeur of the Lucknow courts, where classical dance and music were performed prior to 1858, before the British colonialists dismantled the system of royal court arts patronage in South Asia.
The first half begins with a Tarana featuring a famous rhythmic composition by the late legendary Tabla master Pandit Kishan Maharaj. The second half features the Gat Nikaas, the courtesan's dance, which features a gliding walk, chaal, and enactment of mythological characters. This Gat Nikaas depicts Lord Krishna, shown as playing the bansuri, or bamboo flute.