DASHAVATAR - A Kathak Dance Magnum Opus

DASHAVATAR – An Encounter with the Eternal

What if the world’s oldest story were more relevant today than ever before?

On August 22, 2025, Zurich will host the world premiere of DASHAVATAR—a contemporary Kathak dance spectacle that translates ancient Indian wisdom into a powerful, deeply human theatrical language. On the stage of the Kantonsschule Zürich Oerlikon (KZO), a work unfolds that unites body, rhythm, and philosophy into a unique cultural experience.

🌊 THE WORK

Dashavatar draws from the Puranic narrative of the ten incarnations (avatars) of the god Vishnu—and examines them through a contemporary lens: Protection. Healing. Balance. Courage. Renewal. Each avatar becomes a mirror—an invitation to recognize one’s own responsibility to become a protective, healing force in modern society.

What makes it special: Each of the ten avatars is assigned its own raga and its own tala—ten melodies, ten rhythms precisely attuned to the emotional essence of each incarnation. Sanskrit texts, Carnatic music, and Hindustani sounds merge with Kathak dance, yoga, tai chi, and contemporary movement to create an experience that engages all the senses.

🌺 THE ARTIST

Guru Dr. Pali Chandra is one of the world’s leading Kathak experts. With over 50 years of stage experience, a dual doctorate in dance education, and as a co-creator of the international ISTD-UK curriculum, she has brought classical Indian dance to the world. Founder of Gurukul Studios in Zurich, Dubai, and Bengaluru—and a long-standing part of Zurich’s cultural life.

For Dashavatar, Dr. Pali Chandra has distilled her most visionary creation into a touring format: The original production featured over 80 musicians and 22 dancers. The international tour now brings her and 10 extraordinary soloists to the stage.

💃 THE ENSEMBLE

Ten professional Kathak dancers from around the world—from Dubai, New York, the Netherlands, Vietnam, and Switzerland—come together for this world premiere in Zurich. Each of them brings decades of classical training, international performance experience, and her own artistic voice to the stage. Together, they embody not only ten avatars but also the diversity of the world from which Kathak speaks today.

Among the dancers:

• Avani Samyani (Dubai) – choreographer and lead performer, Edinburgh Fringe Festival, House of Lords in London

• Maithili Patel (New York) – first recipient of the ISTD Distinction, Kathak researcher and teacher

• Janhavi Thorat (Dubai) – Kathak dancer and psychologist, performances in the UK, Switzerland, and India

• Swarashri Shridhar (UAE) – youngest recipient of the ISTD Advanced Vocational Diploma with distinction

• Revati Mirchandani (Netherlands) – 20+ years of Kathak, creator of the mental health series “Break Free”

• and five other internationally experienced soloists

🎵 THE MUSIC

Composed by two of India’s most renowned musical figures:

B. Shivarama Krishna Rao, a sitar maestro from a dynasty of musicians who has been performing internationally for decades—and DC Venkatesh (Sur Productions), a tabla virtuoso, composer, and playback singer, known for the blockbuster film “Kantara.”

⏱ PRACTICAL INFORMATION

Date: Friday, August 22, 2025

Time: 6:00–7:15 p.m. (Doors open at 5:30 p.m.)

Location: KZO – Kantonsschule Zürich Oerlikon, Zurich

Duration: approx. 75 minutes, no intermission

This is a one-time event. World premiere. Zurich.

✨ WHO IS IT FOR?

For anyone who wants to experience world-class dance—no prior knowledge required. For Zurich’s international community. For families, culture enthusiasts, and anyone who wants to be moved by movement, sound, and history. The performance is accessible and inviting—no prior knowledge of Indian classical dance is necessary.

Kathak is not folklore. It is philosophy in motion.