Kathak Dance:
Kathak dance is one of 7 Classical dances of India.
This rich spiritual form of dance, was born into the Hindu temples of North India in the 15th centaury. It started off as a religious and spiritual form of dance being purely danced in front of statues of Gods.
During the Mughal rule (when muslims from Persia came to rule India) the Mughal Kings brought dancers from Persia and Indian dancers into their court. The Persian dancers were inspired by the Indian art and likewise Indian dancers borrowed elements from Persian dancers to adapt the dance into a more entertaining form of dance.
Over hundreds of years the dance form has evolved, and today people get mesmerised by the technical elements of Kathak including the fast yet precise footwork patterns, the fluid hand movements, the table-top spins and the intricate compositions that are spoken and then danced to the tabla. Not to mention the expressional, storytelling aspect of Kathak dance, where the dancer depicts a story or a poem through movement and characterisation.
Nikita is a passionate Kathak dance student, having undertaken strict and disciplined training under senior dance teachers, masters and Gurus. She is grateful to; Surdashan Dheer (UK), Indu Moudgil (UK), Shila Mehta (India), Shri Pratap Pawar (UK), Nahid Siddiqui (Pakistan) and the legendary Kathak maestro Pandit Birju Maharaj for their priceless contribution to her dance training.
Bollywood Dance:
Nikita performs and teaches Bollywood dance, with a classical and dignified touch. She has choreographed numerous dances in her unique style, where the dancers perform to Hindi film songs with an influence from one of the Classical dance styles.
Nikita herself merges the techniques and rhythms from Kathak dance and blends it with the dynamics and expression of Bollywood dance. Therefore, Nikita’s Bollywood dance performances have become well known for their grace, beauty and expression.
With her attractive stage presence and depth of expression, she mesmerises audiences, reminding them of the classic actresses from the Golden era of Bollywood.
Classical Bollywood dance is Nikita’s specialised form of dance which sensibly merges the techniques and grace of Kathak with the style of Bollywood. Nikita’s main emphasis is on expression, which she believes brings life and soul to a dance. She is frequently complimented on her grace, facial expressions and ability to feel her movements. She projects an inner depth through her eyes and face which is unusual for an artist living outside of India.