Each other’s shadow

Neha Kirpal

As a rule, they never practice together, but prefer performing together. Vidha Lal’s fast-paced footwork and lyrical moves are well complemented by her husband, Abhimanyu Lal’s vigour.

For these disciples of Abhimanyu’s mother, Geetanjali Lal of Jaipur gharana, dance is like meditation and should be practiced alone. “During our riyaz, we work on our stamina, on how to improve our weak points and better our strong points. These are different for each individual,” says Vidha. The duo agrees it may not reach a consensus on everything, but know that competing is not an alternative to complementing.

Earlier this month, Vidha received the Ustad Bismillah Khan Yuva Puraskar 2017 conferred by the Sangeet Natak Akademi. And this is just another feat among her string of accolades. She is an empanelled artiste of the Indian Council for Cultural Relations and an A-grade artiste from Delhi Doordarshan. In 2011, she made a Guinness World Record for taking the most kathak spins — 103 in total — in one minute. According to Vidha, the opportunity just came her way. She received a call from the production team of a reality show on Colors called Guinness World Records — Ab India Todega, who had seen her YouTube videos. While initially reluctant to be a part of it, Vidha received encouragement from her husband and mother-in-law to go for it. “All classical dance forms are like mathematics. The more you practice, the better you become. I practice my art every day without fail.” It was simply this routine of practice that helped Vidha create this record.

Vidha was introduced to kathak at the age of six when she enrolled at the Kathak Kendra, the National Institute of Kathak Dance. On the other hand, Abhimanyu was born and brought up amid dance. So, was kathak an obvious career choice for him? Not really. Abhimanyu says he was keen on becoming a singer. “I started practising kathak much later in life,” he says. And once he started practising, there was no looking back. Today, Abhimanyu has performed at some of the most prestigious dance festivals in India and abroad.

Interestingly, his interest in music also led him to take formal training in western drumming from the YMCA in Delhi. The training has helped him play kathak’s rhythmic pattern on the drums.

“I have enjoyed playing for contemporary dance numbers and also got the opportunity to do a jugalbandi with African drummers,” he says. Further, he also enjoys playing for kathak dance compositions and choreographies of his mother Geetanjali Lal.

As he doubles as a dancer and drummer, Abhimanyu gets many interesting reactions from audiences. “Once while on a concert tour to Europe, one of the members of the organising committee wasn’t much amused to see me setting up my drums on the stage. But after our performance, the same person had tears in his eyes. He even touched my feet,” he recalls.

Apart from being performers, the two are also dance teachers. Through their dance company, Kathak Resonance, the duo aims to create a unique platform for kathak dancers where they can learn the art form and get a job after completing the course. Vidha also plans to launch her own clothing line for kathak dancers.