They are all dressed in lime-green kurta salwar; the only thing setting one apart from the other are their shawls, tied sideways from their shoulders.
The studio is immaculate: neat parqueted floor, white walls and white curtains, and a large floor-to-ceiling mirror.
The young women are here to learn the classical Indian dance form of Kathak.
Their teacher, Namrata KC, is a graceful woman dressed in a red-and-white sari with a floral pattern and a red blouse.
She is a Kathak veteran who studied the dance-form in Uttar Pradesh, India. She’s been running the studio for the past six years.
“Kathak is one of the eight classical dance forms believed to have originated in Uttar Pradesh,” KC tells me. “The word ‘Kathak’ comes from the Sanskrit word ‘Katha’ or story. So this is a storytelling dance-form.”
Most dance numbers are based on the stories of Hindu gods and goddesses.
“Dancers emote the stories through various hand movements called ‘mudras’, complex footwork as well as facial expressions.”
Dancers also tie ghungroos (musical anklets) to their feet to set the sound and rhythm of their dance movements, which are equally meaningful in storytelling.
Aesthetics Dance Studio is among the few dance conservatories in Nepal that teach Kathak. KC is glad that many young people are showing interest in the dance.
Most of her students are in the 22-35 age group. Every now and then, KC and her students also participate in cultural shows and festivals to showcase their skills.
“My students come from various professional backgrounds,” says KC. “They are here to learn Kathak out of passion, which is what you need the most to master this dance-form.”
