Smitha Srinivasan

🪔 About

Smitha Srinivasan is a distinguished Kathak dancer hailing from Bangalore, India. Her extensive training in Kathak began under the esteemed guidance of renowned exponents Nandini K Mehta and K Murali Mohan, initiated at the inception of NADAM. Srinivasan has established herself as a prominent performer and educator, regularly traveling across India and internationally to present performances and conduct workshops. Her dedication to the art form is further underscored by her status as an empanelled artist with the Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR) and a graded artist with Doordarshan, India's public service broadcaster. Srinivasan's performances are celebrated for their classical purity, poise, and technical precision. A notable example is her "sparkling Kathak recital" organized by ICCR Bangalore on December 12, 2015, as part of their Horizon Series. This performance, reviewed by Prabal Gupta for Narthaki, was lauded for its "mesmerizing" quality and Srinivasan's "immaculate stage presence". She commenced the recital with a Durga Stuti, showcasing her ability to deliver interpretative passages with grace and gusto. The review highlighted her meticulous handling of pure technical aspects of Kathak, including clear delineation and padhanth before their commencement. Srinivasan has also performed choreography by Guru Shama Bhate, demonstrating intricate pieces with varied time cycles, executed with authoritative meticulousness and grace. Her abhinaya (expressive dance) is noted for its poise, particularly in passages like the Draupadi's Vastraharan episode and an Ashtapadi taught by Bharatanatyam exponent Bragha Bessel, adapted to the Kathak style. The integration of dovetailed nritta (pure dance) and nritya (expressive dance) in her performances, complemented by live musicians on tabla and flute, contributes to a truly evocative experience for the audience.