Popularizing Kathak among the masses
Amita firmly believes that in a historical period of time when Kathak and other forms of classical Indian dance are facing a lot of competition from other forms of dance and entertainment, a conscious effort should be made to keep the dance form alive in the minds of the public.
Amita has choreographed a number of dance productions on popular religious, historical, musical and seasonal themes. These have received a great deal of ovation and popularity.
The following productions were conceived, research done on various forms of presentation and historical background, the script written, music and dance composed and finally presented on the stage. The duration of each project was for several months. The productions are being staged regularly. The year of their launching is mentioned.
2007: Radha-Madhav Sambad
2004: Joyodhwani
2003: East West Encounter
2002: Chena Chena Gaan
2001: Varsha
2000: Vasant Utsav
1999: Raag Maala
1998: Nazrul Nana Range
1997: Amrapali
1997: Chitra Jhankar
1996: East Meets West
1994: Durga
1988: Bishwa Beena Robey
1988: Baanshi
These productions, with Amita performing in the lead, have been staged at various forums all over the world. They are performed regularly and are offered to organizations that are interested in arranging cultural programs.
Radha-Madhav Sambad
Dec. 10, 2007: At Ananda Nazrul Mancha, Agartala, Tripura, organized by the Ministry of Information, Culture & Tourism, Government of Tripura. Chief Guest: Sri Anil Sarkar, Minister of Information, Culture & Tourism, Government of Tripura.
Dec. 6, 2007: At Agartala Mukta Mancha, organized by Sri Anil Sarkar, Minister of Information, Culture & Tourism, Government of Tripura.
Joyodhwani
Dec 31, 2004: Organized and sponsored by the Business School of the George Washington University, Washington D.C., USA and held at the Park Hotel, Kolkata.
Dec 4, 2004: At the Science City Auditorium, Kolkata on the occasion of the 56th Indian Pharmaceuticals Conference, Kolkata.
Apr. 27, 2004: Choreographer and lead dancer in Joyodhwani: A Celebration of Kolkata’s Cultural Heritage, organized by Ananda Chandrika and held at Rabindra Sadan, Kolkata.
East West Encounter
Feb.8, 2006: On the occasion of the Australia-India Exchange organized by the Department of English, Calcutta University and The Centre for Postcolonial Writing, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia held at the Bengal Club, Kolkata.
Dec 10, 2003: At the Uday Shankar Festival 2003 organized by the West Bengal State Music Academy at Rabindra Sadan, Kolkata.
February 23, 2003: On the occasion of World Peace and Understanding Day organized by the Rotary International District 3290 held at the Hotel Taj Bengal, Kolkata in which more than 40 countries were represented.
Bande Mataram
Aug. 15, 2007: Diamond Jubilee of Indian Independence organized by by Rabindra Bharati University at Aban Mancha, Jorasanko, Kolkata.
Jun. 23, 2006: At Sri Aurobinda Bhavan Auditorium, organized by Sri Aurobinda Bhavan. .
Dec.12, 2005: At Mahajati Sadan, Kolkata, with the sponsorship of the Dept. of Information and Cultural Affairs, Govt. of W. B. and the Dept. of Human Resources, Govt. of India.
Jul. 1, 2002: On the occasion of Doctor’s Day organized by Rotary International District 3290 at Gorky Sadan, Kolkata. Chief Guest: Sri Viren J. Shah, Governor of West Bengal.
Chena Chena Gaan
(Based on celebrated Bengali songs.)
May 6, 2007: At the Baharampur Dance Festival at Rabindra Sadan, Baharampur, WB, on the occasion of Pdt. Birju Maharaj’s 70th Birthday Celebration.
Mar. 8, 2003: At the Uttam Manch, Kolkata and organized by the Saroj Nalini Dutt Memorial Association and the Rotary Club of New Ballygunge in aid of the old age home Dinaante.
Jan 25, 2001: At the Institute of Education Auditorium, Doha, Qatar, sponsored by The Bangiya Sanskriti Parishad, Air India, Jet, Gulf Times and Qatar Natural Gas and Petroleum Company.
Varsha
(Kathak creations on songs and themes of the Monsoon)
Sep. 3, 2007: Organized by Rabindra Bharati University at Bichitra, Jorasanko, on the occasion of the visit and to welcome H.E. Shinzo Abe, the Prime Minister of Japan.
Mar. 6, 2001: At the Young Choreographers’ Festival, organized by Pdt. Birju Maharaj and Padatik Dance Centre: Gyan Mancha, Kolkata.
Vasant Bahar
(Kathak creations on songs and themes of Spring)
Apr. 12, 2008: Inauguration of Science & Technology Fair 2008 organized by Institute of Social Studies, Kolkata and held at Central Park, Salt Lake, Kolkata.
Mar. 27, 2008: Holi Festival of National Indian Association for Women held at Calcutta Club Sports Complex, Kolkata.
Mar. 21, 2008: Burdwan Festival, Krishnashayar, Burdwan organized by the Ochi Parishad, Municipality and University of Burdwan.
Mar. 18, 2008: At the Indian Museum Auditorium, Kolkata organized by the Association of Travel Agents and India Tourism, Government of India.
Mar. 14, 2008: Diamond Jubilee celebrations of West Bengal Survey & Drawing Employees’ Association held at the University Institute Hall, Kolkata.
Mar.21, 2006: Silver Jubilee celebrations of the West Bengal State Music Academy, held at Rabindra Sadan, Kolkata.
Mar.14, 2006: Vasant Utsav organized by Burdwan Ochi Parishad held at the Krishnasayar Park, Burdwan.
Feb.12, 2006: Indian School of Mines, Dhanbad on the occasion of the Annual Festival and Alumnae reunion entitled Vasant Utsav.
Mar. 26, 2003: State Dance Festival on the occasion of Basanta Utsav at the Krishna Shayar Park, Burdwan, organized by the Burdwan Ochi Parishad, Burdwan University and Municipality.
Mar. 22, 2003: 150th Birth Anniversary Celebrations of Sri Sarada Ma organized by the Sri Sarada Sangha, Cuttack Branch at the Kala Bikas Kendra, Cuttack.
Feb. 5, 2003: Spring Festival organized by the Maharajkumar of Burdwan.
Apr. 25, 2002: Basant Utsav organized by Rotary Clubs of Lansdowne, Ballygunge and Cossipore held at the Gyan Manch, Kolkata.
Raaga Maalaa
(Dance portrayals of various Raagas)
Feb. 28, 1999: At Gyan Manch, Kolkata organized by Inner Wheel club of Calcutta South East.
Dec. 1, 1998: At Gyan Manch, Kolkata organized by Lions Club of Calcutta Baghbazar on the occasion of its 19th Charter Anniversary.
Nazrul Nana Range
(Dance portrayals of songs of Kaji Nazrul Islam)
Jun. 19, 2006: At Purbasree, Bharatiyam Cultural Multiplex, Kolkata organized by the Eastern Zonal Cultural Center.
May 26, 2006: At Sri Aurobinda Bhavan Auditorium, organized by Ahana.
May 30, 2005: At Mahajati Sadan, Kolkata, organized by Ochi Parishad, Mahajati Sadan with the sponsorship of the Dept. of Information and Cultural Affairs, Govt. of West Bengal and the Dept. of Human Resources, Govt. of India.
May 28,2005: Organized by Rabindra Sadan, Kolkata and the Dept. of Information and Cultural Affairs, Govt. of West Bengal.
Apr 11, 2004: Baishakhi Festival of Impresario India held at the Habitat Centre, New Delhi.
May 27, 2003: Nazrul Janma Jayanti, organized by the Information and Culture Department of the Government of West Bengal at Rabindra Sadan, Kolkata.
May 27, 2002: Organized by Rabindra Sadan and the Government of West Bengal, Department of Information and Cultural Affairs on the occasion of Nazrul’s Birth Anniversry celebrations, held at Rabindra Sadan, Kolkata.
Amrapali
(Dance-drama in Hindi with Pali shlokas based on the life of the legendary dancer Amrapali)
2001: At the Dance Drama Festival of Govt. of West Bengal at Madhusudan Manch, Kolkata. (W.B.Govt.)
1997: At the Rajgir Mahotsav, Bihar. (Govt. of Bihar)
Chitra Jhankar
(Kathak dance creations based on songs from the silver screen)
Dec. 9, 2006: on the occasion of the Uday Shankar Dance Festival organized by the West Bengal State Music Academy at Rabindra Sadan, Kolkata.
Oct. 19, 1997: Choreography, direction and lead in Chitra Jhankar (at Rabindra Sadan, organized by Loreto House Alumnae Association in aid of charities.
Apr. 27, 1997: Choreography, direction and lead in Chitra Jhankar (launching of the production) at Rabindra Sadan, organized by Ananda Chandrika in aid of Calcutta Samaritans.
Durga
Jul. 20, 2007: Inauguration of the first Women’s State Convention of West Bengal Universities’ Joint Staff Council organized by Rabindra Bharati Karmi Sanstha held at Aban Mancha, Jorasanko, Kolkata.
Oct. 20, 2007: Durga Puja celebrations (Maha Navami) at Om Towers, B.T. Road, Kolkata.
Oct. 17, 2007: 39th Sarvajanik Durgotsav of Bengal Club of Surat held at Amidhara, Patel Wadi, Surat.
Oct. 16, 2007: Inauguration of Durga Puja celebrations at Anupama Complex, Dumdum, Kolkata.
Oct.15, 2005: Durga Puja celebrations of Prantik held at Long Reach High School Auditorium Baltimore, Maryland, USA.
Oct. 8, 2005: Durga Puja celebrations of Bengalees of New England at Boston, Massachusetts, USA.
October 31, 2004: Vijaya celebrations of Bengali Association of Dallas-Fort Worth at Dallas, Texas, USA
October 30, 2004: Vijaya celebrations of the Bengali Association of Miami-Fort Lauderdale at the Shiva-Vishnu Temple, Fort Lauderdale, Florida, USA
October 23, 2004: Tri-State (Indiana, Kentucky, Ohio) Durga Puja held at Indianapolis, organized by Tri-State Durga Puja Inc., Indiana, USA.
October 17, 2004: Sanskriti (Washington D.C.) Durga Puja held at Montgomery, Maryland, USA organized by Sanskriti of Washington D.C.
Oct 25, 2003: Bijoya Sammelan of Saikat, San Diego, held at the Performing Art Center, Carmel Valley Middle School, San Diego, California, USA.
Oct. 5, 2003: Durga Puja celebrations of the Bengali Community of Greater Chicago held at the North Chicago High School Auditorium, Chicago, USA.
Oct. 4, 2003: Durga Puja celebrations of Bichitra, Detroit held at the Avondale Middle School Auditorium, Rochester Hills, Detroit, Mchigan, USA.
Sept. 27, 2003: Durga Puja celebrations of the Bengali Society of Florida held at the High School Auditorium, Orlando, Florida, USA.
March 22, 2003: 150th Birth Anniversary Celebrations of Sri Sarada Ma organized by the Sri Sarada Sangha, Cuttack Branch at the Kala Bikas Kendra, Cuttack.
October 4, 2002: Organized by the Sutanati Parishad held at Shovabazar Rajbari Natmandir.
Oct. 1997 & Oct. 1998: Extensive tour of Delhi and its adjacent areas duiring Durga Puja.
Jul. 1, 1994: At the inauguration of the 14th North American Bengali Conference at Chicago organized by the Cultural Association of Bengal (CAB) at the Ball Room, Hotel Hyatt Regency O’Hare, Chicago, Illinois, USA.
Jun. 12, 1994: Organized by Tri-State Durga Puja Inc. KY Chapter at the Humanities Building Auditorium, University of Louisville, Kentucky, USA.
Bishwa Beena Robey/Ritu Ranga
Sep. 3, 2007: Organized by Rabindra Bharati University at Bichitra, Jorasanko, on the occasion of the visit and to welcome H.E. Shinzo Abe, the Prime Minister of Japan.
May 13, 2007: On the occasion of Rabindra Sandhya organized by and held at Pathuria Ghosh Bati, Kolkata.
May 9, 2007: At Khardah Rabindra Bhavan, WB, on the occasion of Tagore’s Birth Anniversary Celebrations organized by the Khardah Pushpa Pradarshani Committee.
May 18, 2005: Solo dance recital to Tagore’s songs on the occasion of the Birth Anniversary celebrations of Rabindranath Tagore held a Rabindra Bhavan, Burdwan.
Baanshi
Aug.27, 2005: At the Ashutosh Birth Centenary Auditorium, Calcutta Museum on the occasion of the Birth Anniversary of Shilpacharya Abanindranath Tagore organized by Sarba Bharatiya, Charu Kala Mandir.
History of Kathak
(Special presentations relating to the historical background of Kathak)
Dec. 29, 2007: On the occasion of the Birth Centenary of Manmatha Nath Ghose and the celebration of 150 Years of Kathak in Kolkata, held at the Thakurdalan of Pathuriaghata Ghosh Family Mansion, Kolkata.
‘From the Temple to the Stage: The Journey of Indian Classical Dance’
October 26, 2004: At the Discover India Series presented by the Office of the Chancellor at the Felton J. Capel Stadium, University of North Carolina - Fayetteville State University, Fayetteville, North Carolina, USA.
Jun. 29, 1996: Organized by Bichitra Inc. at Varner Hall, Oakland University, Rochester, Michigan, USA.
Jun. 22, 1996: Organized by the Bengali Stidies Center and Asiatic Society, Arizona State University, Phoenix, Arizona.
Jun.16, 1996: Organized by the India Association of Notre Dame & The Asian Indian Classical music society of Michiana at the Washington Hall, University of Notre Dame.
Jun. 15, 1996: At Grant Hall, University of Missouri, Kansas City, Kansas, USA.
June 13, 1996: Organized by the Cultural Association of India at Launer Auditorium, Columbia College, Columbia, Missouri, USA.
June 8, 1996: Organized by Bengali Society of Florida at the Visual Arts Building Auditorium, University of Central Florida, Orlando, Florida, USA.
Jun. 1, 1996: Organized by India Cultural Association of Central Iowa (ICA) at Ames City Auditorium, Ames, Iowa, USA.
May 31, 1996: Organized by Academy of Bangla Arts and Culture (ABAC) at Carpenter Hall, Irving Arts center, Dallas, Texas, USA.
May 11, 1996: Organized by Indian Students Association, University of Tulsa & Bengali Association of Tulsa at Great Hall, Allen Chapman Activity Center, University of Tulsa, Tulsa, Oklahoma, USA.
May 4, 1996: Organized by the India Association of Nashville at the Hindu Cultural Center, Nashville, Tennessee, USA.
Apr. 19, 1996: Organized by Bluegrass Indo-American Society (BIACS) and India Student Association (ISA) of University of Kentucky at Memorial Hall, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky, USA.
Apr. 17, 1996: In the Cultural Enrichment Program of Georgetown College at the John L. Hill Chapel of Georgetown College, Georgetown, Kentucky, USA.