Deepak Sahai appears courtesy of Pandit Ram Sahai Sangit Vidyalaya.

Programme:
12am-1pm – dance performance on stage with live music
1.15pm-2.00pm – live music on stage
2.30pm-3.30pm – dance performance on stage with live music

The event is free to the visitors of the Gardens.

More information is available at the Kew Gardens website.

by

Abhay Shankar Mishra
Internationally Renowned Kathak Exponent

Sunday, May 27, 2012 at 6:30pm

Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan
4A Castletown Road, London, UK

UPDATE – DEEPAK SAHAI TO PERFORM TABLA ON THIS VERY SPECIAL DANCE PERFORMANCE.

Abhay Shankar Mishra is one of the leading exponents of Kathak dance in the UK and in the world today. A mesmerizing performer, dynamic teacher, and creative choreographer of Kathak, Abhay currently lives and works in London. Born into a family steeped in musical tradition and trained under world-renowned Gurus, namely Padma Vibhushan Pandit Birju Maharaj, Smt Urmila Nagar Ji and late Pandit Pandey Maharaj, Abhay had the unique experience of learning all three of the major Gharanas of Kathak, i.e., Lucknow, Jaipur, and Banaras. He draws on his vast experience to achieve a beautiful blend of all three Gharanas in his work. He has performed internationally in Germany, Austria, France, North Korea and in South Africa. He also performed in Madrid, Spain, Italy at the Indian High Commission – duet with a leading flamenco dancer, Anna.

Deepak Sahai hails from one of the oldest and most respected music lineages in India. He is the direct descendent of the famed Pandit Ram Sahai and represents the sixth generation of the Benares Gharana of tabla playing. His Guruji and uncle was the legendary Pandit Sharda Sahai. He gave his debut concert in Calcutta, at the age of 16. Since then he has performed widely across India performing with many of the great artists including Padmashree Uma Sharma of Delhi, Padmabushan Sitara Devi (kathak) and Pashupatinath Mishra (vocal).  He is a founding member of the hugely popular tabla trio, Dhamaka, which has received rave reviews. Currently he is based in the UK and is the resident artist at Pandit Ram Sahai Sangit Vidyalaya. Deepakís playing is highly respected for his beautiful tonal control, strength of sound and musicality; this coupled with his in depth knowledge of solo and accompaniment traditions makes for a truly formidable artist. Deepak Sahai appears courtesy of Pandit Ram Sahai Sangit Vidaylaya.

A chance to immerse yourself in tabla and develop your playing and improvisation skills. Each day will begin with the traditional riaz (practise) in groups followed by performance workshops on different Taals and vocal accompaniment. Limited places will be available for Kathak accompaniment.

Venue:Harrow High School, Gayton Road
Dates: Week I – Monday 23rd July – Friday 27th July
Week II – Monday 30th July – Friday 3rd August
Time: Daily 9am – 1pm
Cost: Daily rate – £30 (£20 for Sangeet College students)

Places will be limited so please register your interest by return email so that we can book a place for you. All sessions must be booked and paid for by May 31st 2012.

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Kathak Accompaniment with Priya Pawar and Deepak Sahai

There will be 10 places for students attending the morning sessions to learn how to accompany Kathak dance.

Time: daily 2pm – 4pm
Cost: Daily rate – £10 (£5 for Sangeet College students)

All sessions must be booked and paid for by May 31st 2012.

Deepak Sahai
Deepak hails from one of the oldest and most respected music lineages in India. He is the direct descendent of the famed Pandit Ram Sahai and represents the sixth generation of the Benares Gharana of tabla playing. His great great great great grandfather was the legendary Pandit Ram Sahai and his Guruji and uncle is Pandit Sharda Sahai who passed away in November 2011. Deepak started his performing career at the age of 13 years accompanying various artists in India across the different musical and dance disciplines. He is well known for his wealth of tabla knowledge and his dynamic performances. He is a founding member of DHAMAKA, an innovative tabla trio with a new approach to tabla performance. He is currently in his third term as Resident Artist at Sangeet College, a department of Pandit Ram Sahai Sangit Vidyalaya in London.

Priya Pawar
Priya, an international artist with over 30 years experience as a teacher, will be the lead teacher at our first Kathak Camp. She was trained from an early age with the foremost gurus of both the Jaipur and Lucknow styles and began her professional career as a resident artist of the legendary Guru Birju Maharaj’s ballet troupe. Priya is renowned for her grace, technical ability, and stage presence as a performer. She has performed worldwide as both a solo artist and in collaborations with dancers from other traditions including flamenco, jazz and tap. And she has choreographed a number of critically acclaimed Kathak and Odissi ballets with themes drawn from Indian Literature and contemporary themes.

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KATHAK CAMP with Priya Pawar
July 23 to August 3, 2012
London, UK

A chance to immerse yourself in Kathak dance with workshops focussing on technique and abhinaya. There will be riaz (technique practice) and performance workshops with live tabla accompaniment.

Venue: Harrow High School, Gayton Road
Dates: Week I – Monday 23rd July – Friday 27th July
Week II – Monday 30th July – Friday 3rd August
Time: daily 10am – 1pm & 2pm – 4pm
Cost: Daily rate – £30 (£20 for Sangeet College students)

Places will be limited so please register your interest by return email so that we can book a place for you. All sessions must be booked and paid for by May 31st 2012.

Priya Pawar
Priya, an international artist with over 30 years experience as a teacher, will be the lead teacher at our first Kathak Camp. She was trained from an early age with the foremost gurus of both the Jaipur and Lucknow styles and began her professional career as a resident artist of the legendary Guru Birju Maharaj’s ballet troupe. Priya is renowned for her grace, technical ability, and stage presence as a performer. She has performed worldwide as both a solo artist and in collaborations with dancers from other traditions including flamenco, jazz and tap. And she has choreographed a number of critically acclaimed Kathak and Odissi ballets with themes drawn from Indian Literature and contemporary themes.

To register, or for more information, contact Pandit Ram Sahai Sangit Vidyalaya at:
+44 772 395 8411
tablacamp@sahai.org

He profoundly touched all those who came into contact with him with his great wisdom, knowledge and humour. He will be remembered for his spellbinding solo performances, East-West collaborations, and skill and generosity as a teacher. His legacy will live on through his disciples and students and in the Pandit Ram Sahai Sangeet Vidyalaya which he founded in Benares in 1965 so that those outside of the tradition could have access to education in Indian Music and the Performing Arts.

Presented in collaboration with the Pandit Ram Sahai Sangit Vidyalaya
Hosted by the Schulich School of Music of McGill University

Host: Shawn Mativetsky

Pandit Ram Sahai Sangit Vidyalaya

Spend two weeks with one of the greatest living tabla players. This extended tabla workshop will include lessons, group practice sessions, lectures, repertoire classes, and a concert and is appropriate for all levels (beginning, intermediate, advanced).

Pandit Sharda Sahai
Pandit Sharda Sahai was born in Benares, India in 1935. He is a direct descendent of Pandit Ram Sahai, the founder of the Benares style of tabla playing. As one of India’s pre-eminent tabla artists, Sharda Sahai has appeared at all of the important music conferences and festivals and has performed with every major artist of North Indian Classical music, including Ali Akbar Khan, Amjad Ali Khan, and Ravi Shankar. He is the director of the Pandit Ram Sahai Sangit Vidyalaya schools of music in Benares and inLondon. He has held appointments at the music faculties of WesleyanUniversity, Brown University, Berklee School of Music, Dartington College of Arts, Oxford University and at Leeds University in England. For more information on Pandit Sahai, please visit www.Sahai.org.

Dates: July 24^th  through August 5^th,  2006

Location: Schulich School of Music of McGill University, Montreal, Quebec,Canada

Instruments: Students should provide their own tabla for use during the workshop. A very limited number of tabla may be available to rent.
Daily Schedule: Students will be divided into classes based on ability level. Each class will meet eight times. Much of your time will be spent in individual practice and practicing with your classmates. Advanced Class time may change to fit the participants. Private lessons will be added on an individual basis.

Group Practice Sessions: Students of all levels practice together. This is a time for review and clarification of material covered in class. The group practice sessions are for technique practice.

Group Listening Sessions: This is a chance to listen to recordings of the masters to compare and contrast styles etc.

Lectures / presentations: To be announced.

Puja: Puja is a gathering to pay homage to the master tabla players and teachers of the past.

Gala Concert

Saturday August 5^th, 2006

The concert will feature Pandit Sharda Sahai, performing a tabla solo in the Benares style. The concert will open with solo performances by Bob Becker and Shawn Mativetsky, accompanied by the McGill Percussion Ensemble.

Pollack Hall, Schulich School of Music of McGill University

His loss is being felt the world over. His legacy continues to live on.

LONDON – SUMMER 2012 – with master classes, workshops, live performances

In honour of Pandit Sharda Sahai

Supported by a team of musicians from the UK and India.

The Tabla Camp has been hosted in several cities in North America providing a unique and musically enhancing experience.  Pandit Ram Sahai Sangit Vidyalaya (PRSSV), will host the 28^th International Tabla Camp in 2012 in London.  PRSSV is a pioneering organisation set up in the late 1980s to promote an understanding and appreciation of Indian performing arts through education and performance projects.

DATES:     July 23^rd to August 3rd 2012 [Guru Puja August 4^th]

An intimate music & dance recital with acclaimed classical artists

Sunday 16 May 2010 5pm – 7pm

Experience the unique interaction between artists and their audience in traditionalbaithak style in the exquisite surroundings of the Laurent Delaye Gallery, Mayfair.

*** NO MORE SEATS AVAILABLE ***

Donation: £15 per person (£10 PRSSV students and families) – in advance only. Book early, as places limited. Includes light refreshment.

Contact: frances@sahai.org 0208 574 1202

Venue:
Laurent Delaye Gallery
First Floor
11 Savile Row
London
W1S 3PG

[Underground: Green Park, Oxford Circus, Piccadilly]

Ashwini Kalsekar, Mehboob Nadeem and Dheeraj Mishra are affiliated artists and teachers of the PRSSV. The Pandit Ram Sahai Sangit Vidyalaya (PRSSV) now in its 23rd year, works to enhance the practice, understanding and appreciation of the music and dance of South Asia and related art forms.

Laurent Delaye Gallery, kindly made available by Laurent Delaye.

Pritpal Singh Rai and Narinderjit Singh Lallie

Two leading musicians from the younger generation present a mesmerising tabla recital in the Benares tradition. Their Guru is the legendary tabla virtuoso Pandit Sharda Sahai. In Tabla Jugalbandi Narinderjit and Pritpal will take you on a journey through the ancient city of Benares, ably demonstrating the richness, complexity and beauty of Benares’ melodious rhythmic traditions. Both have performed with reputed artists and their playing has attracted many plaudits with performances that display their wide knowledge of Indian music.

Pritpal Singh Rai is currently working for the Birmingham Music Services and, together with Narinderjit Singh Lallie, has been under the guidance of Pandit Sharda Sahai since 1999.  This event forms part of the ‘Jalsa 2010’ series.

Accompanist : Gurpal Singh (harmonium)

In association with Pandit Ram Sahai Foundation (www.sahai.org)

Saturday 23 May, 2009 at 7.30pm, is a Ghazal evening, presented in association with PRSSV (Sangeet College) with Surendra Kumar and Unnati Dasgupta and top musicians – not to be missed!

Tickets £10/8 (see attached flyer.) ALL TICKETS CAN BE BOOKED ONLINE ATwww.harrowarts.com or through the box office on 0208 416 8989 (Mon – Fri)