‘Anvat’, An Artistic Tribute to The Legacy of Legendary Kathak Exponent Dr. Rohini Bhate

Pune, 27th September 2024: To mark the birth centenary year of Kathak exponent and art scholar, Late Guru Dr. Rohini Bhate, Rujuta Soman, her direct disciple and the founder of Navasarjan Lalit Kala Foundation in association with Rithwik Foundation for Performing Arts is presenting a two-day celebration ‘Anvat – Unleashing Artistry Beyond Limits’ on 5th and 6th of October 2024 at Shreeram Lagoo Rang Avakash, Tilak Road, Pune.

The event is split into two sessions with morning sessions from 10am to 1pm and evening sessions from 5pm to 8pm. Entry for the program is free for all on a first come first served basis. The event also marks the silver jubilee of the Rujuta Soman Cultural Academy (RSCA), founded by Rujuta Soman.

Speaking about the event, Rujuta Soman said, “I have spent my formative years with Guru Rohini Bhate and was immensely inspired and positively influenced by her exemplar way of approaching Kathak, experimenting with content, music, and choreographies, while honouring the traditional boundaries of Kathak. ‘Anvat’ is an effort to celebrate, demonstrate, and throw light on the paths less taken in different disciplines of art. It refers to innovative and experimental works that break away from traditional norms and leave their mark behind.”

The event is split into 2 parts. The first part is a symposium spread over 2 days with visionaries like Kathak Dancer Prajakta Raj, Film Educator Anupam Barve, Filmmaker Kranti Kanade, Artist/Curator Raju Sutar, Kathak Guru Shama Bhate, and Tabla Maestro Taalyogi Pt Suresh Talwalkar who will deliberate the creative journeys and the innovations that have transformed the art forms.

The second part comprises of performances that illustrate innovative thoughts and compositions through Hindustani vocal, Kathak and Bharatanatyam recitals that will bring out great work done by Guru Rohini Bhate and her students. Rujuta Soman and her disciples will present a few of the exemplar compositions passed on to them by Guru Rohini Bhate.

The morning symposium on 5th October has been planned between 10am and 1pm with speakers like Prajakta Atre, Anupam Barve, and Guru Shama Bhate. Evening session from 5pm to 9pm will feature performances by renowned vocalist from Bhendi Bazar gharana Anuradha Kuber, group performance by senior students of RSCA, a solo performance by Rujuta Soman, and an experimental presentation titled ‘Rujutap’.

The morning session on 6th October will also be held between 10am to 1pm showcasing “Venugaan” a dance theatre via Bharatanatyam by Vaibhav Aarekar and ‘Kavitali’, a presentation originally conceptualized and choreographed by Guru Rohini Bhate to be performed by Rujuta Soman and her students.

The Evening symposium program will be from 5pm to 8pm and will include curator Raju Sutar, filmmaker Kranti Kanade, and Taalyogi Pandit Suresh Talwalkar. All the events will be accompanied by Charudatta Phadke and Sameer Puntambekar on Tabla Yashwant Thitte on Harmonium, vocals by Arpita Vaishampayan, Jaydeep Vaidya, Mukta Joshi ; Tushar Dixit on Keyboard and Anup Kulthe on Violin.