From the ninth generation of the Kalka Bindadin lineage, Shinjini Kulkarni is the grand daughter of Kathak Maestro Pt. Birju Maharaj.
She began her training in kathak dance at the tender age of five under the tutelage of her grandfather. Starting to perform at the tender age of eight, she has ever since been exploring her passion for dance while perfecting her art.
With each of her performances, she continues to mesmerize and capture hearts while winning herself accolades.
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What is Kathak?
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Kathak is the only classical form of dance, which originates from the Northern part of India to carries with it, the legacy of Nabobs, court culture, as well as Indian mythology. Its name derives from katha meaning story and its performance originates from the kathaks or storytellers who used to give religious and moral instruction in narrative form. Music, mime, and dance became important features of their technique and when this mingled with the decorative dance styles. Kathak performers are noted for their virtuosic fast turns and stamping footwork, whose rhythms, exaggerated by ankle bells, develop into highly complex metrical sequences.
Kathak has contributed immensely in the Bollywood style of dance as well, making it a uniquely adaptable art form. Traditionally, Kathak is generally performed on a solo basis recital.