Dance for the moment, not money: Birju Maharaj

"Faith in art for art's sake is dying," said Pandit Birju Maharaj, the legendary Kathak dancer of Lucknow Gharana. The 72-year-old maestro performed in Ahmedabad on Saturday, the first day of the Saptak festival.

He was accompanied on stage by Saswati Sen, 50, his disciple for the last 40 years who is widely acclaimed as his 'shadow' dancer.

The duo performed 'Mayur Ki Gat', their popular composition which the city's discerning audience demands every time they perform here.

They also danced a few thumris that the late Nandan Mehta liked so much and paid him a special tribute on the first day of the music festival he started many years ago.

"Mehta was a unique artist who nurtured many others with pure dedication and love for music," said Birjuji. "It is commendable that his institute is taking his vision forward."

The dance legend said today's youths take up music or dance expecting fame immediately. Most of them get their guidance from popular TV reality shows which present artists with half-cultivated skills for lesser goals like money, he said.

"Young learners think they have reached the top when they have not yet mastered the art form," he said. "They get distracted and do not pursue the art to a deeper level. Many are diverted into using art for worldly gains. They forget that art is divine because its pursuit leads to spiritual bliss."

Both Birju Maharaj and Saswati Sen feel that the Saptak music festival helps preserve the selfless pursuit of art and restores faith in art as an end in itself.

"Music and dance are like a prayer," said Birjuji "They connect the dancer with a spiritual energy which then manifests itself through the dancer's body and his movements.   

This energy unites the audience, the dancer and the Lord into a single thread of rhythm." He said an artist can reach this sublime connection very spontaneously if he pursues the soul of art, leaving aside worldly considerations.

Besides his mastery of dance, the great contribution of Birju Maharaj lies in his taking Kathak to the masses. He did not leave it as the privilege of the few. He could achieve this because of his unique ability to establish a deep connection with his audience. "Dance and music lead to pure bliss. Using beat and rhythm, they initiate a dialogue with the audience without words," said Birjuji. "It is a metaphysical connection."

It was indeed a metaphysical connection that was established between the audience and Birju Bharaj when he performed a modern composition of Kathak-Rap for the audience at Saptak.

The composition presented a rare juxtaposition of classical Kathak mudras and rhythm with the fast beat of modern popular music.