BERKELEY, CALIFORNIA, January 31, 2015 (Times Herald): The unexpected death of 70-year-old Kathak master Chitresh Das on January 4 is a calamity for the world of dance, but it’s a disaster for which he prepared his disciples well. A performer of earthy exuberance and exquisite control, he was the driving force in spreading knowledge and appreciation of Kathak, the North Indian classical dance form. Teaching at first from the Ali Akbar College of Music and since 1979 at his own expansive Chhandam School of Kathak, he often put his performing career on the back burner to concentrate on inculcating Kathak’s movements, rhythms and epic tales to new generations, artists he assiduously prepared to take his place.
“As a guru, he talked about his death on a regular basis,” says Rachna Nivas, a principal dancer in the Chitresh Das Dance Company (CDDC) and director of Das’ Chhandam School. “It became quite normalized. Four days before he passed he asked ‘What will you do tomorrow if I die today?’, which wasn’t unusual. What he was doing was constantly reminding us that this is not about receiving this energy from him. It’s about invoking and generating that energy ourselves. He was preparing me for this day.”
While the school and dance company are still reeling from Das’ death, there was never any question about canceling performances. The CDDC presents “Shiva” at Zellerbach Hall in Berkeley on March 28-29, continuing the strong ties that Das forged with Cal Performances over the years.