Rekha Nadgauda was introduced to Kathak by my mother when I was seven years old. My first guru was Master Hyder Sheikh in Nashik. Then I went to learn from Pt Gopi Krishnaji whom I told that I have no money to pay his fees then, but I would not leave till I learn from him the dance form. A guru in a true sense, he taught me and when it was time to leave and I asked him about his guru dakshina, he said, ‘teach others’. I then started Kirti Kala Mandir institute in Nashik where I am teaching ever since. The institute has branched out in Nashik and also has a branch in London. In the meantime, I gained a new perspective of laya and taal from Pt Kshmatai Bhateji.
Kathak for me is a simple yet beautiful medium of expression. It is a very natural expression as nothing is forced. The movements, grace, rhythm, foot work, gestures and music all goes in tandem. I find it easy to express through dancing. The form is very close to life. What about experimentation with Kathak?There is definitely a framework to be followed in Kathak but over the years I realised that a lot more can be done. With an eye for creativity, I tried to do something new. I expressed epics like the stories of Lord Rama in ballet forms, chose bhajans and abhangas to convey the spirituality through dance as well as presented poems of Kusumagraj, Tagore and bandishs of Pt Paluskar through Kathak. Apart from these, I have also presented dance compositions like Amhi Marathi expressing the ethos of Marathi, classical Indo-Western fusion, presentation on female foeticide, moods of Bhairavi and many more. Each creation is a new learning experience and is very enjoyable and satisfying.