Kala the Arts

Shristi, A Celebration of Indian Dance and Music

Basingstoke College of Technology

TO BE at one of Kala's joyful celebrations is to be immersed in a very special cultural experience.

The family is at the heart of it all. Sushmita Pati is the director who teaches dance and Sushmita’s mother Saroja Devi encourages the children and adults to sing.

A note was played on the danpura and Saroja led them into an extemporized song which seemed to come from centuries past – thrilling!

She conducted a group of about 20 singers, some as young as three, singing with their brothers and sisters and parents. The sound they produced with such fervour was very different from any sort of sound that I am used to, but once you are ‘tuned in’, it is mesmerising.

Saroja sang a solo, accompanied by first class tabla player Surjit Singh who sat on the floor looking positively regal. Gazing at the two of them together, dressed in traditional Indian garb, it was easy to forget that we were in a BCoT hall - I thought I was on a film set.

The whole company wore wonderful saris and the men and boys taking part held their own in the fashion stakes.

Many different styles of Indian dance were presented. Classical Indian dance with Bollywood movements was performed with a great sense of enjoyment by students from Dove School.

Sushmita performed an Odissi-style dance and she made it so easy for us to follow the story especially with her dancing eyes and facial expressions.

A classical Indian dancer from Germany, Gudrun Mertins, gave us a beautiful dance based on childhood stories of Krishna.

Many of the teenage dancers had bells sewn into their clothing and their feet were painted red; there were so many wonderful visual effects to appreciate. Nitish Gurumurthy and Baishaki Mazumber led us through the programme with great charm.

The event was made to feel very special by the presence of Mrs Vibha Mehdiretta, deputy director, Nehru Centre, High Commisssion of India and our own deputy mayor Cllr Jane Frankum who spoke of a “lovely, joyful” time.

It was good to see former mayor Cllr Dan Putty there too - he spreads so much warmth and friendship wherever he goes.

Kala the Art has been in Basingstoke for around 20 years. Sushmita Pati should feel justifiably proud of what she has achieved in helping to keep alive the cultural life of the Indian community.

Her classes are open to anyone from three years to seventy three years old who is interested in Indian dance, both classical and Bollywood.

Hannah Williams