Kathak and Storytelling
Since childhood, I have been captivated by the power of stories. Bedtime was a magical ritual when my mother would weave tales of gods and goddesses, filling my imagination with divine adventures. I was enchanted by stories of brave knights, damsels in distress, and clever animals imparting moral lessons.
What fascinated me most was how, as a millennial child without access to TV or the internet, I could vividly imagine characters and emotions with no real-world baseline. A tall white tower with a trapped princess or a dense forest teeming with mythical creatures would come alive in my mind, transforming every story into a fully immersive experience.
This lifelong fascination with storytelling deepened when I began learning Kathak, a classical Indian dance form that embodies storytelling through rhythm, expression, and movement. Derived from the Sanskrit word Katha (story), Kathak thrived in the Mughal era as a form of entertainment, much like theater today. Through gestures, facial expressions, and intricate footwork, Kathak dancers narrate tales that captivate audiences, whether it's the grandeur of divine legends or the simplicity of everyday life.
One transformative moment in my Kathak journey came during an exercise where my Kathak teacher (guru) gave each student a word and asked us to interpret it in our own ways using hand gestures and facial expressions. Watching my classmates express the same word in unique ways was a revelation. It opened my eyes to how deeply personal our interpretations of the world are, shaped by our complex inner worlds, personal backgrounds, cultural trends, and historical events. This realization underscored the incredible diversity and complexity within human storytelling.
One of Kathak’s greatest lessons is that storytelling is not confined to words—it’s about creating a connection. Whether through dance, design, or dialogue, it’s the authenticity and emotion that make a story resonate. As I perform, making gestures to convey how my heart interprets the music, with the hope that the audience ‘feel’ the story I am telling, just as I once imagined those childhood tales.
The lessons I’ve learned from Kathak have profoundly influenced my work. Stories that engage and persuade audiences help us advocate for users—helping us understand, narrate, and humanize their pain points and motivations to foster a sense of relatability. A product that lingers in someone’s heart is one that tells a story they can relate to, a story that makes them feel truly understood. Through Kathak, I’ve come to see storytelling as a universal art—a force that bridges cultures, languages, and mediums to leave a lasting impact.
Little dancer, Big Imagination
A moment from my childhood, practicing the art form at home. Dancing has always given me joy and over several years I have tried a variety of dance forms, from Indian classical to western genres - each adding its own rhythm to my journey.