1999 Annual Concert

Click here to see the concert pictures

Asavari at White Plains, New York celebrated its first annual concert on Sunday January 31st, 1999 in the Pace University Auditorium (Briarcliff Manor Campus) from 2-5 pm. Asavari, a school of Music, Dance and Fine Arts was founded by Mrs. Anjali Banerjee in 1989 at Calcutta, India.

Asavari at New York has been started by Mrs. Banerjee's daughter Mrs. Gargi Bagchi who gives lessons in Kathak and Vocal. Click here to see details.

On Sunday - Jan 31st, Asavari celebrated its annual concert with various items. The concert started with the National Anthem of United States followed by that of India. It was followed by slokas (phrases) from Shrimad Bhagavat Geeta receited in Sanskrit and translated in English.

Everybody knows about the great Nobel Laureate Indian poet, Rabindranath Tagore. Based on 4 themes Prem(love), Puja(prayer), Swadesh(patriotism), Prakriti(nature) - there were songs and dances beautifully choreographed in Rabindric style.

There were instrumental (Sitar and Sarod) items too with Tabla. Raag Behag was played in Sitar and Kafi was played in Sarod. The rhythmic touch of both the string instruments with the beats of Tabla, touched everybody's heart to a great extent. 

Finally, Kathak was presented by Gargi Bagchi and her students. The themes were Saraswati Vandana (prayer to the Goddess of Art, Education and Wisdom), Holi (the Festival of Colors) and Patriotism (India offers Unity in Diversity). Each of these 3 items were presented with grace and clarity in pure Lucknow style of Kathak, choreographed by Gargi Bagchi who is an ex-student of Calcutta branch Asavari and has taken intensive workshops from the great Kathak maestro Pandit Birju Maharaj of Lucknow Gharana
(style) and Shri Ashim Bandhu Bhattacharya of Jaipur Gharana. Kathak, the North Indian dance form, has its uniqueness in vigorous footworks and circles and brisk eye movements. Kathak is not only rhythmic but also is expressive in nature. The basic movements were shown by the junior students, movements like Gat Nikas, Tukras and Tatkar were shown by the senior students and extensive footworks demonstrating the 5 Jatis (catagory) of the Taal (beats) - (Tishra, Chatashra, Kanda, Mishra and
Sankirna), different ways of ending a composition, difficult Tukras and Parans and Teentaal (a 16-beats rhythm) with Tabla were presented by Gargi Bagchi. Of the 3 themes, Part I (Saraswati Vandana) was devotional, Part II (Holi) was rhythmic and expressive - showing various parts of Krishna Leela and Part III (Patriotism) was patriotic and showed that India, the country of various geographical, cultural, religious diversities offers a strong bondage of unity among her nation.

There were no tickets and donations. All expenses were bourne by Gargi and her husband Dr. Sugato Bagchi and by some of the local Indians and Americans who offered help with open arms in every respect e.g. auditorium, sound sysmtem, lights and food. The most striking thing is that all the guest artists performed for free just to help Asavari.

Gargi has the following intensions for future:

1. To make her mother's dreams come true, Gargi wants to expand Asavari where lessons will be given besides Kathak and Vocal.

2. Will include Muslim theme in its next annual concert, since Kathak is a wonderful blend of Hindu and Muslim culture.

3. Will put more effort to enhance the classical mode of Kathak (e.g. more variations in footwork, application of more complicated beats etc.)

4. Asavari will try to include more people in its annual concert (people of nationalities besides Indians and Americans).

5. Will try to put more live music with Kathak.

It is always easy to say things but doing it in reality is always hard. Success not only requires effort and dedication but also co-operation from the students, their parents and the local community. Asavari seeks support and help from everyone to make its dream successful.

Here is someone's opinion from the audience:

Dear Gargi,

The concert was wonderful and moving.  I am sorry my wife and I couldn't stay through the very last number to congratulate you but we had a date with friends and had to leave.

The tabla, sitar, and sarod players were both technically and artistically wonderful.  Your students are well trained and the youngest ones adorable.  The woman who choreographed her dance is very graceful and her dances were beautiful and expressive.

I love your Kathak form.  The formal translation of beats and emotions into the dance is unbelievably expressive and even a neophyte like me is mesmerized.  Counting in 14 and 18 is beyond this mathematicians conscious ability but I could still appreciate it.  The material you learned from me is pretty mundane in comparison.  You really gave me a tantalizing look at a rich tradition of dance. As we say in the West Bravo!

The reading from the Baghvad Gita was totally moving.  Of course it was a reading about how the wise person is as calm as the sea accepting rivulets. But Im Western and have my highs and lows and enjoy them. In any case the ritual was so familiar to my Jewish heritage. There is a sacred text for Jews the Torah(old testament)  or Commentaries on the Torah).  The books are adorned with material and set out to read but prayers are read before (and after).  Then a portion is read and the books put back in their ceremonial holders.  I also argue with what the Jewish readings say.  I guess I am generally pretty contrary but your performances were overwhelming.

Thank you.
Cheers,

Bob Schneider