Aunusthan
by Pagrav Dance Company
![Seven Kathak dancers: two male, five female, in bright saffron orange and sea green costumes, caught mid-leap. They are grouped three towards the back, and four towards the front, but are all dancing in unison. Their legs are tucked up under them, and their arms are all extended in the same direction. Those whose faces are visible are smiling. The women have gold jewellery and white flowers in their hair. The stage is hung with black and the light tints the floor blue.](https://dt7savnbjquj3.cloudfront.net/_imager/files/Theatre/Autumn-2024/Pagrav/414889/PagravDanceCo_Aunusthan_ProdImage_Credit_SimonRichardson_2023_5_913c1471c1573d7d89b5967eaa144c7e.jpg)
About Aunusthan
This was truly 'dancing that makes you feel alive.' Going further, it was also dancing that reminds you of the aliveness of others, the seriousness of their lives and feelings mirrored in the sincerity of their artwork...It felt sacred and transcendent…the dance dealt with vast ideas physically, through form and technique.
(Strand Magazine, 2023)
A celebration of the ancient yet always-evolving multifaceted art of Kathak. This evening of exhilarating choreography from a contemporary master transports the audience into a breathtaking world of weaving patterns and riotous rhythms - drawing them in to revel in the colour and music of India, and the pure technique and virtuoso dynamism of the performers.
Featuring a cast of talented British Asian dance artists who have trained with Pagrav Dance Company, Aunusthan also showcases the bright future of Kathak in the UK. These exceptional performers, alongside a number of the country’s most talented musicians, bring their passion and creativity to every moment of the show, creating an unforgettable experience for all.
About Pagrav Dance Company
Choreographer Urja Desai Thakore is best known for her innovative approach, bringing impeccable classical technique to contemporary storytelling and staging, and as Artistic Director and CEO of PDC, she has built a company that is at the forefront of contemporary British Kathak - taking it from traditional solo dance to an interdisciplinary, ensemble art form. The company teaches, promotes and presents Kathak in its purest form while challenging its traditional artistic boundaries with contemporary production values and cross-discipline collaboration - creating a wholly new movement vocabulary. This approach both preserves the cultural heritage of Kathak, while provoking new appreciation of the discipline and mobilising its impact to empower people and enhance lives.
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CAST & CREATIVES
Choreography: Urja Desai Thakore
Music: Alap Desai & Atul Desai
Costume: Urja Desai Thakore & Abha Desai
Lighting Design: Urja Desai Thakore & Chris Burr
Executive Producer: Lia Prentaki
Sound Engineer: Camilo Tirado
Audio Description: Meera Patel
Dancers: Parbati Chaudhury (she/her), Urja Desai Thakore (she/her), Meera Patel (she/her), Mira Salat (she/her), Ishira Shah (she /her). Final cast to be confirmed.
Musicians: Hiren Chate (he/him), Kaviraj Singh (he/him), Gurdain Singh Rayatt (he/him), Satwinder Pal Singh (he/him)
Produced by Pagrav Dance Company. Supported using Public Funding by Arts Council of England and Milton Keynes City Council.