On October 10, 2024, the Department of Dance at the SN School of Arts and Communication organized a day-long workshop on “Gaudiya Nritya.” The workshop was conducted by Gaudiya exponent Prof. Mahua Mukherjee and her troupe. Gaudiya Nritya, a dance tradition from West Bengal, was revived and reconstructed by Prof. Mukherjee during the 1980s.
In the morning session, Prof. Mukherjee delivered an in-depth presentation on the architectural and artifactual origins of Gaudiya Nritya, along with its literary and textual aspects. After lunch, students participated in an immersive practical session, where they learned a Ganesh invocation piece, gaining insights into the basic design patterns and kinaesthetic movements of the dance form.
The day concluded with an engaging discussion on the interplay between arts, identity, and geopolitics. Students posed nuanced questions, which Prof. Mukherjee answered with precision and patience. Grateful for her wisdom, the students expressed their desire for a longer workshop to learn more from the maestro.
Write up by Pranati, Sem 1, pictures by Shriekanth Nand Kumar, Research Scholar