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Instructor
of Belly Dance and beginning Odissi Dance
Colleena is
training under Guru Padma Cheran Dehuri, Colleena teaches and
assists with Odissi stepping classes, theory, and early item classes.
Colleena has been Belly Dancing for over 7 years. She performs
regularly in Pushkar with the local Khalbelia party at Sai Baba
Haveli every Saturday. Her style reflects her interest in Arabic
folk dances as well as Rajasthani. This is a unique and simple
approach to Belly Dance. |
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Guru
of Odissi Dance and Pakawaj Drum
From Bhubaneswar, Orissa, India, a
master drummer and dancer with over 35 years experience, Padma
Sir is a very gentle and devoted teacher. He has a lot of experience
teaching foreign students in both India and in the USA. Padma
Sir’s gentle sense of humor is just the aid at times of
frustration while learning dance. He balances his trainings to
make them challenging, yet attainable. |
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Odissi
Dance Master
Nephew of Guru Padma Cheran Dehury,
Sirog’s life has been saturated with Odissi from a young
age. He has earned a masters degree in Odissi dance, graduating
top in his class at Bhubaneswar’s reputed university, Utkal
Sangeet Mohabidalaya. His teachers have included Guru Bitut Latta
Chowdry, Guru Nerujana Rout, Guru Padma Cheran Dehury and Guru
Kelucharan Mohapatra. His graceful style is strongly influenced
by Guru Kelucharan Mohapatra’s popular dance style. Sirog
has performed at many prestigious festivals and events through
out India. Students of Sirog have all praised his inspiring and
playful approach to teaching Odissi. It is our great honor to
frequently host him as a guest teacher of Odissi workshops at
Shakti School of Dance. |
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Nagara
Master, (Rajasthani
Folk Drum) “Drummer
on the lake”
Before telephone, nagara drums were used for coded
communication across vast distances. Every Maharaja (king) of
bygone days had a nagara man who came to the center of a village
to play in times of war the nagara to excite the soldiers to battle.
Most temples in India traditionally have bells for worshippers
to ring out (the female instrument) and a nagara man to play drums
(the male instrument), balancing the sounds of devotion. Nagara
drums are also used at festivals and daily events to liven and
excite people such as; Holi festival, marriages, Ghoomar dances
and religious occasions. Nagara are 2 drums made of metal and
covered in goat or buffalo skin. They are played with 2 sticks
with the action of the wrist directed outward rather than inward
as in western drumming. The bols (rhythmic compositions or ‘language’
of the drums in Indian music) are the same as the tabla drum.
Nathu is nothing short of a legend in Pushkar and all of Rajasthan.
His passion for nagara and rhythm make him one of the most sought
after drum teachers in Rajasthan. A festival in Rajasthan is never
complete without his drumming. He performs annually at nearly
every festival in Rajasthan and at many throughout India, as a
living treasure of Rajasthani culture. His family is a long line
of nagara drummers for the very important Bramha temple in Pushkar.
It is here as a child he began skillfully carrying on the tradition
of the nagara drummer. Nathu has over 25 years teaching experience
with teaching foreign students and was the first music teacher
in Pushkar of his generation. His music has inspired countless
students and even debuted on Mickey Hart’s, Planet Drum.
Nathu is very fun in his teaching style for beginning to advanced
level students. Come drum with him at sunset on the Pushkar lake! |
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Instructors
of Khalbelia 'Gypsy' Dance
Sonita
Sapera, Nathori Sapera, Sopari Sapera, Raki Sapera and Kaliki
Sapera
Within the small community of Khalbelia who
live outside of Pushkar we cycle teachers to teach the dance
classes so students get a variety of styles in this introductory
class. Khalbelia Sapera dance is an improvisational dance
which allows a lot of freedom of expression; therefore each
girl brings in her own life experiences and personality
to the dance. These dancers teach their classes how they
would teach their own children. The format for this class
is not that of western dance taught in schools, but rather
a raw and authentic experience with folk dance. |
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