The Kathak Podcast : Kathak Ka Chakkar
Conversations with Kathak Artists from across the world

TKP 081: Varsha Prasad

2 years ago

Varsha Prasad

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Sojugada Sooju Mallige | Mahadeva | Dance Cover | Bengaluru - YouTube

Varsha is a multifaceted Kathak dancer, a known instructor, performer and choreographer with over 20 years of dancing experience. Despite her diverse interest in Psychology, dance and movement therapy, Varsha continued to focus mainly on Kathak, earning recognition and popularising the dance form at home and other countries like Netherland, Germany, Switzerland, Dubai, Srilanka and many more. In 2018 she opened her own studio “Kalaagram art and wellness centre Pvt.Ltd.” in Bangalore and in 2020 she founded “Kalaagram Dance Gurukul” in Goa, a cozy dance haven built from upcycled sustainable materials. This foundation aimed to preserve and popularize kathak to the underprivileged. She has been awarded the dancing flair in Mumbai,2012. Varsha's expertise is not only limited to Kathak but also in therapeutic dance practices, healing, meditation and counselling psychology.

Show Highlights

(0:02:26) Building your own studio

(0:11:04) The DIY mentality

(0:12:38) Teaching Russian, Konkani, Marathi Students

(0:14:33) Starting classes in Goa

(0:19:00) Music and Dance in Goa

(0:21:23) Teaching storytelling to students

(0:22:12) The meditative nature of Kathak

(0:26:02) Work with side trance music

(0:28:11) Adapting movements to shooting with a drone

(0:29:35) how are kids benefiting from learning dance

(0:30:50) dance and psychology

(0:34:00) Drawing the line betweeen being empathetic and their therapist

(0:35:30) Dance and Yoga Retreat: Samudra

(0:40:08) Memorable performances: Dancing in a temple

(0:41:33) Tips on being independent