Enter the world of ‘Aneka’, where Kathak transcends borders and friendships blossom into a powerful force for change. Amidst the challenges of the pandemic, eight friends from Canada, the US, India, Dubai, Netherlands and Australia came together to create more than just a dance production – it’s a tribute to mental health awareness. Juggling roles as choreographers, scriptwriters, designers, CFOs and more, all while balancing our studies, we have already seen success with two shows. Now, as ‘Aneka’ comes to India, they promise audiences an unforgettable experience, where Kathak becomes a vehicle for profound storytelling and social impact, igniting conversations and touching hearts. In this exclusive interview with News18.com, the group talks all about their journey so far.
Excerpts from the interview:
How did you come up with the idea of creating a Kathak troupe, ‘Aneka’? What inspired you to create ‘Aneka’?
Embarking on a journey like no other, “Aneka” is not just a Kathak production; it is a testament to the power of friendship, creativity and shared commitment to a cause. Born from the depths of the pandemic, our group of eight friends, hailing from diverse corners of the world including Canada, the United States, India, Dubai, the Netherlands and Australia, came together through our love for Kathak. Together, we envisioned something more than just dance; we saw an opportunity to amplify mental health awareness, using Kathak as our medium of expression.
Why did you name her Aneka?
The reason we named our Kathak troupe ‘Aneka’ is that our narrative revolves around ‘Anēka’, a Mughal-era courtesan who bravely confronts her dissociative identity disorder, embodied by Rasika and Arya. With the support of her mentor, Guru Begum Noor, and her friend Aashna, Anēka embarks on a journey of self-discovery. Through our thematic exploration of mental health, we aim to engage, entertain and educate audiences.
How many girls are there in the company, what is their age group and what is their background?
'Aneka' is a Kathak troupe comprised of eight energetic, vivacious and highly talented young women from various corners of the world including Canada, the United States, India, Dubai, the Netherlands and Australia.
How many shows have you done so far and where are they all?
We have had a total of 5 sold out shows in Dubai in 2021 and 2023.
Where in India would you perform? What brings you to India?
We will be performing at MES Auditorium, Pune on 17th August 2024 and at NCPA, Mumbai on 18th August 2024. As we all know, Kathak originates from North India. It is an ancient and one of the major forms of Indian classical dance, just like our roots which are from India. So, it is a tribute to our motherland, India, and we are privileged to perform here.
How many hours of rehearsals do you do per day/week?
We have our rehearsals from 9am to 5pm every day.
What message do you want to convey to the audience with your Kathak performances?
Together, we envisioned more than just dance; we saw an opportunity to amplify awareness about mental health, using Kathak as our medium of expression. Now, as we bring ‘Aneka’ to India, we promise audiences an unforgettable experience, where Kathak becomes a vehicle for profound storytelling and social impact, igniting conversations and touching hearts.
Any advice for girls (4-5 years) who want to learn Kathak?
Keep dancing and keeping your creativity alive by telling and dancing your stories. Your voice is important and should be heard.
About the cast:
Aditi Achwal (Anekā, creative director):
Aditi Achwal is a graduate from FLAME University, Pune, majoring in Literary and Cultural Studies and minoring in Dance. She is interested in research oriented towards literature for dance and theatre. She has performed all over India and the UAE.
Swarashri Shridhar (Rasika, Aneka's alternate personality, artistic director):
Swarashri Shridhar’s niche is creating choreographies around mental health and social wellbeing and she has performed them in the UAE, India, Switzerland and the UK. She continues to learn Carnatic music from Smt. Rajani Shridhar and has explored the art of Konnakol and Nattuvangam.
Avani Samyani (Arya – Aneka’s alter personality, co-CEO):
Avani Samyani, a graduate in Finance from Western University in Canada, has performed around the world, in the UAE, India, Canada, Switzerland, London and Scotland. She uses her background in finance to make dance more sustainable and tells powerful stories through Kathak, pushing its boundaries.
Janhavi Thorat:
Janhavi Thorat is currently pursuing a Masters in Business Psychology as part of her educational journey. She has participated in several performances in UAE, India, London and Switzerland. She has completed and received the ISTD diploma with honours. She aspires to explore dance therapy, which will include a fusion of Kathak and psychology in her future projects.
Mirchandani Revelation:
Revati Mirchandani is currently pursuing her Bachelor's degree in Business Administration at Tilburg University, Netherlands. She has performed in several countries including UAE, India, Netherlands, Switzerland, UK and Kenya. She has completed the ISTD Kathak Diploma with honours.
Maithili Patel:
Maithili Patel, a Kathak artist from the US, aims to tell stories that celebrate and challenge traditional narratives. She is one of Guru Dr. Pali Chandra’s principal shishyas and has performed around the world, including the New York Kathak Festival, the Swiss International Kathak Festival, the Human Rights International Arts Festival, and the Modhera Dance Festival. She is an accomplished storyteller and her work has been called “relatable” and “expressive,” performed by a “passionate playwright.” Maithili recently served as rehearsal director for her Guru’s Gita Govinda Project.
Suraiya Siriwardana:
Suranya Siriwardana is a Sri Lankan Kathak dancer based in Adelaide, Australia. She has been learning Kathak for the past 14 years and after completing the ISTD Kathak Vocational Diploma, she has launched her own company, Nalini Dance Company. Having travelled the world sharing this beautiful art form, Suranya is passionate about using dance as a form of communication.
