Kathak has a great future ahead: Sanjukta Sinha | Lucknow News

Lucknow, a city known for its rich cultural heritage and deep-rooted traditions, has seen the rise of many accomplished artists. Among them is Sanjukta Sinha, a kathak dancer whose journey from being a young girl in Lucknow to performing at renowned venues like the Royal Opera House, London, is a testament to her dedication and love for the art. Sanjukta also performed at the Jahan-e-Khusrau event organised by Muzaffar Ali in Delhi, recently. In conversation with her, we spoke about her journey from performing at national to international platforms, inspirations and the future of kathak.
When asked about her early beginnings in kathak and how she felt about Lucknow’s influence on her, she shared, “Now when I look back, Lucknow is one of the gharanas of kathak — Jaipur, Banaras and Lucknow. So definitely, it has had a great influence on me. Culturally, Lucknow has been a part of my journey because I was a very young girl, just seven years old, when I started my kathak practice in Lucknow. I was also a part of all the festivals that took place in Lucknow at a very tender age.”
She continued, “The fragrance of the city is very much seen, maybe in how I talk, the way I am, and yes, also when I’m on stage performing. My initial training started in Lucknow with my first guru, the late Pandit Arjun Mishra ji. I trained in the Guru Shishya Parampara under his guidance for almost 10 years. I have been blessed to start my journey under him and in Lucknow.”

Sanjukta Sinha

Shedding light on whether the art form is in today’s time is overlooked Sanjukta expressed, “Kathak has not been overlooked. Many youngsters want to learn the art form. They just need an open environment that supports them. Even in films, both in India and internationally, there is a lot of kathak being showcased. Kathak has a great future ahead,” she replied with optimism. We then asked for her advice to the young dancers of Lucknow who aspire to follow in her footsteps, she says, “It is a tough and challenging journey, but dreams do come true. One should take risks because you can never grow if you don’t move out of your comfort zone.”
When the conversation turned to the Bollywoodisation of classical dance forms, Sanjukta commented, “The Bollywood influence on classical dance forms has always been a debate. As far as it is done gracefully, based on thumris and ghazals, while keeping the essence of the dance forms intact, it can inspire a lot of youngsters. Bollywood is a great channel to reach people, but it’s important to maintain the dignity of the art form.”
As we wrapped up the conversation, we asked her why kathak, as a dance form, has also struggled to transcend boundaries within the country itself. She responded with a hopeful tone, “Kathak has gone through many stages and has transcended boundaries, but it has always retained its beauty. If you truly want to make a mark and walk the path you’ve dreamt of, everyone and everything goes through struggle. Nothing is achievable in a short time; everything takes time. I have a lot of hope in the next generation that they will carry on the legacy of the form.”
-Amina Ashraf