A vibrant showcase of dance and storytelling filled the Doris Duke Theater on April 26 as Kahānī took the stage before a packed audience. The Indian dance concert, directed and produced by University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa professor Sai Bhatawadekar, transformed the Honolulu Museum of Art into a celebration of movement and culture.
Kahānī means story in Hindi, and that’s exactly what the audience received—14 vivid tales told through dance, music and theater. From myths of celestial beings to the emotions of everyday life, the evening explored devotion, longing, love, loneliness, boldness and joy.
“My intention was to bring various artists, students, and faculty together with the community and present the incredible variety of dance forms that have been and have become an integral part of Indian and South Asian culture, from classical to popular art, from ancient traditions to global flows,” said Bhatawadekar.
Bhatawadekar, who teaches in multiple UH Mānoa departments including Indo-Pacific languages and literatures, theatre and dance, philosophy and Asian studies, brought together a cast and crew of 40 performers and technicians. A majority were connected to UH as faculty and students, including dancers, singers and guest artists.
Bollywood, hip hop
Each performance brought different styles and traditions: classical Bharatanatyam, semi-classical with Kathak, lively folk dance from Maharashtra, high-energy Bollywood numbers, contemporary and hip hop. The music ranged from traditional Indian ragas to modern beats, with rich poetry woven throughout.
“I am profoundly grateful to the performers; it was an inspiring, joyous, and enriching experience to choreograph and dance with all of them, and to create the show as a whole,” said Bhatawadekar.
National standout
In 2022, Bhatawadekar garnered national recognition and rave reviews for her choreography. She represented UH Mānoa at the American College Dance Association (ACDA) and was selected by the ACDA judges from among submissions from universities and colleges across the country.
