Performances

Dancing at Maharashtra Mandal
Students of Devaniya perform at Chatrapathi Shivaji birth anniversary celebrations of Maharashtra Association, Chennai in May 2011. The programme was a tribute to the warrior-patriot Maharaj Chatrapathi Shivaji.

At KM Music Conservatory, Chennai
Jigyasa & her students danced at A.R Rahman’s music school, K.M Music Conservatory in Chennai. The audience – a select group of delegates from the Middlesex university, UK, who were there to affiliate with KMMC for their graduation programme in western music & music technology.

Bitiya – Celebration of a Daughter’s marriage
BITIYA is a dance production about the joys and cheers that daughters bring to life. The highlight is a Kabir bhajan with a romantic twist rendered by Vedanth Bharadwaj depicting a young bride who comes to visit her parent’s home and is torn by pangs of separation from her beloved. Jan 2011.

Vijayadashmi 2010 Celebrations
This show had an interesting blend of young kids, teenagers, working women & mothers, and a grandmother as well. A pleasure to watch how the different ages blended, sometimes dancing within their own group, at other times merging with one another.

Krishna and Kathak by Jigyasa
In an elegant Kalamkari saree with Krishna motifs, Jigyasa demonstrated how the rhythm of Kathak along with the romance of Krishna has for decades been an important part of Bollywood – sometimes used well, sometimes misused, often beautified, sometimes diluted. Lec-Dem at IWA, a women’s club.

Lec-Dem at Madras Club
In July 2010, Jigyasa & her students performed at The Madras Club. They depicted how Kathak started in the temples bringing to life the great scriptures and ancient epics. And then how it gradually moved into the courts of the rulers where the Mughal leaders hired Kathakas to entertain them in their lavish courts.

Lec-Dem at American International School
In Jan 2010, Jigyasa and her students conducted workshops demonstrating the Gat in Kathak which are compositions that depict actions. Jigyasa performed the Gat Chaal & Ghungat while the dancers performed Naav ki gat, Mayuri, Gajagamini & Krishna.

Pratham – Launch of Devaniya
In Nov 2009, Devaniya was launched with “Pratham”, a dance recital by Jigyasa’s students. The highlight of the show was the item titled “Taal aur Laya ki Uthaan”. Aptly described as the evolving of rhythm, this piece was a melodious confluence of Todas, Tukadas, Gats and Tihais.

Celebrating “Cooking at Home with Pedatha”
Jigyasa’s students danced to celebrate the Gourmand Awards won by “Cooking at Home with Pedatha” – the tribute cookbook by Jigyasa & Pratibha. Jazz singer & actress Andreah Jeremiah who has been Jigyasa’s student was the compere of the show. May 2007

Apart from classical Kathak, Jigyasa has conducted dance workshops for primary grade students at My School Satyasurabhi, Kodaikanal. She also visited many of the tsunami affected areas in Tamilnadu in 2005 with songs and books from Karadi Tales to spread cheer in the hearts of the school children during that period.