“From Microbiology to the Magic of Kathak: Arpita Banerjee’s Journey to the Stage”

Arpita Banerjee credits much of her artistic development to the guidance of Guru Bandana Sen and to the iconic performances she witnessed as a young dancer. One of the most memorable moments of her early career was seeing Pandit Birju Maharaj, the legendary Kathak master, perform at Victoria Memorial. “Watching him dance in the open air with the grand setting of Victoria Memorial behind him was an experience I’ll never forget,” she shared. 

These formative experiences with such masterful artists deeply influenced Arpita Banerjee’s own style of Kathak, particularly her approach to storytelling. “Kathak, which originally means ‘storytelling,’ remains deeply rooted in narrative. The essence of the dance is to communicate through movement, even when there are no lyrics involved,” she explained. Her mastery of this art of storytelling has helped the artist reach audiences worldwide, regardless of their familiarity with Indian classical dance.

After completing her studies in microbiology, the renowned Kathak dancer found herself at a crossroads. She had job opportunities in science, but her love for Kathak was undeniable. “I knew that pursuing a career in dance would be a challenge, but I couldn’t imagine my life without it,” she shared. Her parents, while supportive, warned her of the difficulties she would face: “They told me that a career in science would provide security, but in the world of dance, stability isn’t guaranteed. But they also told me they would stand by my decision no matter what,” she said.

With their encouragement, Banerjee pursued her passion, completing her master’s in Kathak and eventually earning numerous accolades, such as becoming an empanelled artist with the Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR) and receiving gradation from Doordarshan. Today, she has performed on international stages from the United States to Vietnam, representing the rich tradition of Kathak to audiences across the globe.

The artist’s recent performance at Caudan Centre was a stunning example of cultural fusion. Titled “Hansini”, the production brought together Indian classical dance and Western ballet for the first time, combining the elegance of Kathak with the discipline of ballet. In a creative twist, Arpita Banerjee choreographed a part of the performance to Tchaikovsky’s iconic ‘Swan Lake’, fusing the timeless composition with Indian classical instruments such as the sitar and tabla. “This was the first time ballet was performed live on stage with Indian classical musicians,” she explained. 

The artist praised the collaborative spirit of the Mauritian artists and musicians, without whom this cross-cultural performance wouldn’t have been possible. “There is a connection from the heart with everyone I work with, and that made this production possible,” she noted.

Arpita Banerjee is not only focused on preserving the tradition of Kathak, but also on making it relevant to new audiences. “The younger generation is more drawn to modern dance forms like hip-hop and Bollywood,” she noted, “but once they have a classical foundation, they can explore any style they want.” She aims to engage younger audiences by incorporating contemporary elements into her productions while maintaining the classical roots of Kathak.

In “Hansini”, for example, she blended the classical foundation of Kathak with modern storytelling techniques to create a performance that resonated with both adults and children. The infusion of Tchaikovsky’s ‘Swan Lake’ with Indian classical music was part of this effort to appeal to audiences of all ages. “The idea is to appeal to everyone. Kathak is a living, breathing art form that can grow and evolve,” said the maestro.

Arpita Banerjee has big plans for the future. She is eager to continue exploring new collaborations and innovative choreography that will push the boundaries of Kathak while remaining true to its classical roots. “I want to take this production to other countries and show how Kathak can evolve by blending it with other forms of dance,” she shared.