Kathak Gave Me Purpose Of Life; Pune An Identity: Shama Bhate
Pune, 6th December 2022: Renowned Kathak exponent Guru Shama Bhate expressed that Kathak gave her purpose of life and Pune city gave her an identity, which helped in establishing herself.
Popularly known as ‘Shama Tai’, the septuagenarian dancer, was felicitated for receiving prestigious Sangeet Natak Akademi Award by the ‘Shastriya Nritya Sanvardhan Sanstha’, a trust formed by dance Gurus and dancers in Pune at the MES Auditorium in Kothrud.
Another renowned Kathak exponent Pandit Nandkishore Kapote, who was also honoured with Sangeet Natak Akademi Award, was felicitated on the occasion.
Eminent Bharatnatyam exponent Sucheta Bhide-Chapekar and Kathak Guru Maneesha Sathe, ‘Shastriya Nritya Sanvardhan Sanstha’s Arundhati Patwardhan, Rasika Gumaste, Leena Ketkar, Manjiri Karulkar and Prajakta Atre were present on the occasion.
Bhate recalled the teaching of her Guru Rohini Bhate and emphasized that the award has given her responsibility to take more initiatives and urged the city’s dancing community to stay together.
Kapote, on his part, said that he was humbled by the love and affection, which was showered on him and was particularly pleased that he was being felicitated by the members of his community.
He recalled that it was on the instance of his Guru Pandit Birju Maharaj that he came to Pune and started working to promote Kathak.
Both Chaphekar and Sathe said Bhate should have been bestowed with the award long back for the enormous work she had done in this field.
Dancers Aruna Kelkar, Smita Mahajan expressed their gratitude towards Shama Bhate.
The program, moderated by Gauri Swakul, ended by a dance performance by students of Nadroop.
