Arshia Sharma talks about her love for Kathak dance...

by Shuchita Rao

Arshia Sharma presented a Kathak Rang Manch Pravesh on June 30, 2024 at Littleton High School, MA. Arshia is the daughter of the well-known philanthropists Smt. Vandana and Shri Vivek Sharma and the disciple of Vidushi Moumita Banerjee, artistic director of Tarana School of Kathak. Lokvani spoke to Arshia about her dance journey.

Who are some dancers who have inspired you?

Growing up, my mom, Smt. Vandana Sharma has been my biggest inspiration. She was the first dancer that I ever saw. She is extremely talented, with the best expressions, better than anyone else I have ever seen. She has been my biggest support. She has watched me dance through all my practice rehearsals and has elevated many of my dance items with her advice. My Guru is also my inspiration. Moumita Didi took a lot of time to teach me and I have a lot of appreciation for her. She is a kind person and the perfect teacher for me. Without her, I would not have been able to present my Kathak Rang Manch Pravesh.

What kind of effort did you put into preparing for your Kathak Rang Manch Pravesh?

While I studied at a boarding school in Andover, I practiced about 7 hours a week. It was hard for me to dedicate as much time to practice as I would have liked to do during the academic school year. Once I graduated High school, I was able to put in 6 hours a day and that helped me catch up. I wanted to understand not only the dance movements in each piece I was presenting, but also the emotions that needed to be conveyed. For instance, as I practiced portraying the character of Yashoda, I wanted to understand what she felt towards each character and exactly what she felt at every moment.  For four weeks before the Rang Manch Pravesh, I practiced non-stop to refine the items I prepared to present during the live show.   I also practiced for four hours every other day with my musicians and that was a big help because it helped me feel comfortable dancing to live music and presenting the pieces in front of an audience.

Did you have a say in what you would present in your Kathak Rang Manch Pravesh?

Yes, I did. At the beginning of planning the Rang Manch Pravesh, I knew that I would be presenting many stories that revolved around Lord Krishna's life. In Kathak, we tend to see a lot of Maakhan Chori, Krishna's butter stealing type of episodes. In addition, however, I wanted to present a different side of Lord Krishna's life. I therefore chose to present a piece on Goddess Durga. Once Vasudev swapped Krishna for Yashoda's daughter, he presented her to King Kamsa as the 8th child of Devaki. When Kamsa tried to kill the infant, she revealed her true divine nature. That is the theme of the dance item Durga Paran.

Having been born and raised in USA, did you think in terms of presenting a fusion piece that brought the East and West a little closer?

I wanted to keep my Rang Manch Pravesh very traditional. I wanted to respect the art form and the values of my Guru. I wanted to show the technical side of Kathak and also expressions. That was quite enough for me. Therefore, I chose not to present a fusion piece. 

What aspect of dancing do you enjoy the most? Dramatization, telling stories, footwork, or something else?

I have a lot of interest in storytelling. For my Ranfg Manch Pravesh, I enjoyed sharing many stories from Shrimad Bhagavatam with a focus on Lord Krishna. Being able to play many characters in a short time was very enjoyable. Switching characters quickly, from being Yashoda to Krishna to Kaalia the snake, was rewarding because I could share a whole range of expressions. During this dance journey, I learned a lot about expressions and how dramatic I could be.

Have you received training in forms of dance other than Kathak?

Yes. I have learned Tap dance, Jazz, lyrical and hip-hop styles and have a lot of respect for them. I have participated in musical theatre in school. When I was a part of the school musical "Chicago" I learned about jazz and was very impressed. 

What kind of thought went into picking out costumes, jewelry and accessories for your Rang Manch Pravesh?

I got to work with my mother, my Guru and others to pick costumes, jewelry and accessories. I had a lot of fun picking out colors for each dance piece. For characters like Yashoda and Krishna, I picked bright colors such as yellow. I wanted the audience to feel the same energy as the characters. 

You recently started an entrepreneurial venture "Arshia's Jewels"  with your mother. Can you share some information about that journey?

I will be studying Business with a focus on Entrepreneurship at NorthEastern University this Fall. I would like to build a business that is sustainable for the environment.  I thought a jewelry venture would be perfect practice for me before I start college studies. My mother and I both love jewelry. About one year back, we decided to start a mother-daughter venture. We began selling jewelry on Etsy and that grew a lot. I am now selling on Facebook, WhatsApp and will soon be looking to sell on Instagram and in person. It's fun figuring out how my mom and I can grow our business venture together.

What are your long term goals in life? Do you see Kathak dance as being part of your future? 

I have worked with organizations dealing with women's empowerment and equality, as well as organizations that help children who are living in poverty. My parents have helped me with my desire to give back to the community by helping me work with organizations such as AIF. Being able to practice dance and present a Rang Manch Pravesh has been an ultimate dream come true. People may know about India but often, they do not know details about Indian culture.  If I were 5 years old and saw a Kathak dancer telling stories, it would have been easy for me to understand Indian culture. I know how beautiful Kathak is, and would love to dance for the rest of my life telling stories about Radha and Krishna. Being able to perform  dance in order to raise cultural awareness about India is what I see in my future.

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