Episode Notes

Smita Rawal Alves – Smita has been dancing for over 30 years, having toured across the US and Canada, with her primary training and Guru Smt. Anjani Ambegaokar. In recent years she continues to learn kathak under Vidushi Smt. Durga Arya ji and extensive taal vidya studies under Pandit Divyang Vakil ji. As much as she loves to dance and tour, after about a 5-6 year hiatus to raise her own children, Smita’s current aspiration is to share the beautiful tradition with others to emphasize the value and relevance of Indian Classical arts in society today. Since 2015, Smita runs her own Kathak school: Bhakti Bhav Dance, teaching classes to all ages of students across Orange County, CA. Kathak is the schools’ platform to nurture and encourage students to appreciate musicality, movement, rhythms, self-expression, discipline, and the richness of the cultural history which Kathak stems from. Smita especially loves seeing the students become more confident and self-sufficient dancers who can take what they learn and apply it in their own way and in their own expression. She hopes to help students and audiences alike, find joy through the experience of Kathak dance.

(0:03:16) Dance as an offering

(0:04:41) Who does the offering of Kathak go to?

(0:08:43) Bhakti Bhav Dance Academy

(0:12:53) Teaching kids with a busy schedule

(0:17:43) Retaining students after High School

(0:22:00) Starting Taalvidya

(0:26:04) The impact of taalvidya on Kathak

(0:30:04) Working with Guru Durga Arya ji

(0:38:23) Riyaaz Rituals

(0:42:56) Finding balance in Life

(0:44:16) What do Smita di's students like about them

(0:52:05) Work with Nakui Dev Mahajan and Mira the Royal Detective

(0:56:59) Future Projects

Title Track Audio Credit: Doug Maxwell | Bansure Raga