Kathak dancers Nalini and Kamalini believes dance is a therapy for mind, body and soul

Kashi and group will take to the stage on Tuesday at Tagore Theatre from 6.30pm onwards.

“Dance instills a mental strength and emotional release,” says Nalini.

Stressful lives, instant gratification leading to anxiety and depression worries her, and so, along with Kamalini, she has found a solution in dance. “Dance not only helps in channelising energies, but staying fit and healing internally,” says Nalini.

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Kashi agrees. “It is only when the entire body, mind and soul are in tune that a person can truly live a moment and the only medium that helps one achieve that is dance,” she said.

The sisters have conducted dance workshops to treat violent stubborn and depressed students globally. Kashi has researched into the effects of dance on body and mind.

“Kathak, through Navrasas or the nine major emotions, forces you to secrete important fluids from glands that helps in maintaining a healthy balance in the body. It also helps develop concentration, will power, improve eye sight, rehabilitate physical handicaps and even cure asthma,” adds Kashi.

Dance is a reflection of life itself.

“Through dance, you not only communicate stories but stories within yourself. In one moment, you are a queen and in another, you become a warrior. Dance lets you experience all the bhavas by switching roles and applying them to your personal life with grace,” says Kashi.

Discipline is another element of dance, aligning movements, opening up the body and nudging it to observe, experience, absorb and reflect.

“My Guruji always said that with the movement of the hand goes the eye and with the eye goes the mind. This control, coordination of the body and mind and discipline is necessary to gain success in all walks of life,” says Kashi.

Knowledge through dance is what they share.