Is Shakti Mohan Bridging Russia and India with ‘Dance Across The World’?
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Mumbai, Feb 22 (NationPress) Shakti Mohan is poised to transcend cultural boundaries, actively fostering a worldwide cultural initiative.
The talented dancer and choreographer has launched the latest segment of her passion project, Dance Across The World, which delves into the vibrant and dynamic folk traditions of Russia. To celebrate this milestone, Shakti organized an evening gathering with her close friends, family, and industry professionals, turning the episode's premiere into a celebration of pride and empowerment.
Through her YouTube initiative, Shakti has embarked on a journey across continents, aiming to introduce age-old folk dance traditions to modern youth. After exploring regions such as Sri Lanka, Kazakhstan, Mauritius, the United States, the United Arab Emirates, and Tanzania in Season 1, and Georgia, Australia, and Bhutan in Season 2, she now adds Russia to her growing list.
Discussing the show, Shakti expressed, “The primary concept of the program is to journey through different nations and uncover their folk dance styles, traditions that are remarkably beautiful, unrefined, and have existed for centuries. To safeguard these ancient art forms, they need to resonate with today’s youth, which is precisely my goal. This is genuinely one of my favorite projects. My love for travel and dance makes this show the ideal fusion for me.”
Regarding Russian dance, she remarked, “Russian dance is incredibly distinctive, authentic, rich, and deeply intertwined with nature, love, and narratives, which resonates with me as an Indian dancer. While my background is in Bharatanatyam, characterized by intricate footwork, Russian dance presents a different technique, tempo, and style, making it quite challenging to learn and perform rapidly.”
She further added, “What moved me the most was the warmth and kindness of the people. The Russian choreographer was so touched by my commitment that she presented me with traditional headgear, which held great significance for me. Although Russian dance diverges significantly from Indian forms, I perceive a beautiful possibility for fusion, such as merging Kalinka with Kathak. India and Russia share a profound cultural connection, and my experiences there left me with cherished memories.”
For those unfamiliar, in the Russia special episode, Shakti immerses herself not only in traditional Russian dance but also embraces the country’s harsh climate, even participating in an icy plunge challenge, demonstrating that she doesn't merely visit cultures; she fully engages with them.
Her sisters Neeti Mohan and Mukti Mohan, along with several industry friends, were present at the launch, supporting her as she continues to build a unique global dance archive through her platform, Nritya Shakti.
Since its inception, Dance Across The World has garnered widespread acclaim for its documentary-style storytelling, which artfully combines education, entertainment, and cultural exploration.