TKP 030: Naina Green
Episode Notes
https://www.instagram.com/naina_kathak/
Naina Roychowdhury Green started her exploration of Kathak in 1994 at eight years of age, as Dr. Pallabi Chakravorty’s first Kathak student while Dr. Chakravorty completed her PhD. Naina’s unique style of Kathak evokes a soft and subtle restraint combined with sharp lines and crisp footwork. Hailing from Philadelphia, PA, USA and now currently residing in Pittsburgh, PA, USA, she is a founding member and Head Faculty of the Pittsburgh branch of the Courtyard Dancers, founded in 2000, and has been a fixture in the Pittsburgh dance community since 2004. Naina has guest lectured at the University of Pittsburgh and collaborates with the local community both in performance and sparking important discourse. Naina has also been performed on international television and was featured in J.J. Tiziou’s photographic installation “How Philly Moves”. In Pittsburgh, Naina offers a rigorous Kathak curriculum for all levels in addition to leading a strong performance group she’s lucky to know.
Currently Naina is calling for contributors and is in the nascent phase of establishing an upcoming Kathak Festival Bells of Steel (a nod to the steel town of Pittsburgh) in the Western Pennsylvania, Ohio and West Virginia region. She is deep in the weeds of grant writing and establishing local connections. Naina was recently invited as a guest panelist to discuss “Immigration and the Arts” by Kelly Strayhorn Theater.
Show Highlights
0:02:00 Impact of Gender Fluidity on Teaching
0:06:32 Differences Between Gharanas
0:07:57 Naina Green's style
0:09:39 Aspects of Teaching
0:15:27 Workshops Naina di likes
0:18:30 Current Explorations of the Jaipur Gharana
0:20:15 Sticking To Kathak
0:29:03 Dancing with limitations on legs
0:31:17 Courtyard Dancers
0:36:14 The responsibility of an artist
0:42:01 Being fearless and performing for oneself
0:44:32 Relationship with the audience
0:55:52 The Rocketbook
0:57:27 Impact and Legacy