Stunning Kathak performance kicks off Napa’s theatre and music festival

The National Academy of Performing Arts International Theatre and Music Festival got off to a promising start with the Kathak diva, Naheed Siddiqui, giving a mesmerising demonstration of her talent on Thursday night.

Resplendent in scarlet, Naheed exhibited exquisite movements of the hands and arms, absolutely synchronised with the Sitar recital of Nafees Khan. However, whether the performance can be termed a pure Kathak performance could be debated as the nimble foot movements synonymous with the dance were not there.

Her hand movements, though, were spot on. It felt as if she were narrating an episode, complete with hands often lifted skyward. The occasional winsome smile that often goes with a Kathak dance was also every bit there.

An unconventional feature was the absence of the Tabla, something that is unimaginable about a dance recital. Even though Nafees Khan’s deft Sitar recital was perfect, the absence of the Tabla was prominently felt as the percussion instrument provides the beat for the steps.

However, by and large, it was a captivating performance, even though a little

unconventional. Her performance kept the audiences riveted to their seats for a full 90 minutes.

The Napa auditorium was packed to capacity but there was pin-drop silence – a testament to how captivating her performance was. Nafees Khan’s mastery over the Sitar was highly commendable as he played continuously for 90 minutes. Besides, his selections were really serene and lilting. Another aspect that some could take issue with was the lighting of the hall. It really was too dim. One would expect the illumination to be bright as that would really make a dance performance come alive.