HEARTBEAT OF RAJASTHAN FESTIVAL
Dance & Music Festival in Pushkar, Rajasthan
MARCH 4 - 8, 2025
Journey into the heartbeat of Rajasthan through it’s music & dance!
2025 Festival Featured Artists
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ASHA SAPERA
Kalbeliya Song & Dance Master Classes + Performances
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IDU KHAN LANGA PARTY
Sufi Kalam Candlelight Concert
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SUNITA, MAMTA & KARISHMA SAPERA
Chari & Kalbeliya Dance Masterclasses + Performances
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SHEETAL RATHORE
Rajput Ghoomar Dance Master Class
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SHRUTI MISHRA
Kathak Classical Dance Master Classes
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NISHTHA AGARWAL
Rajasthani Choreography Master Classes
The heartbeat – a natural musical impulse that connects all mankind. Indian dances anchor themselves in the tala (rhythm) – from the hypnotic simplicity of the Rajasthani drums, to the complex footwork patterns elaborated in classical Kathak dance, you will find the dancer in soulful dialogue with the beat.
What is Heartbeat of Rajasthan Festival?
GLOBAL ONLINE CONFERENCE
5 DAYS OF MASTER DANCE WORKSHOPS
LIVE PERFORMANCES & DEMONSTRATIONS
KALBELIYA ARTS EDUCATION INITIATIVE
FESTIVAL SCHEDULE
*Gold highlighted classes are broadcast/recorded for global online participation
Mega Stage Performance!
March 8, 2025
Jaipur Ghat - Pushkar Lake 7 - 9 pm
Embark on a journey of Rajasthani classical, contemporary and folk dances on Pushkar’s holy lake. Culminating with a new musical curation by the famed Hameed Khan Kawa (Musafir & Kawa Brass Band) and Marwari songstress Asha Sapera presenting the softer side of her haunting traditional sound.
Festival Performance
An acoustic candle-lit concert of deeply devotional Sufi songs and mystical Raga from Rajasthan and the greater Sindh region. Sindhi Sarangi, Algoza, Vocals and Percussion of the Langa community.
Festival Performance
Intimate and raw, join us for a wildly haunting experience of Kalbeliya women’s Marwari songs of this multi generational chorus in an intimate setting. Kalbeliya women’s songs reflect their old ways of life as a tribe of nomadic Jogi. Fierce, mystic and hilarious… experience a culmination of song repertoire restoration work we have been doing in our archiving & Kalbeliya Arts Education Intiative here in Pushkar.
Global Online Conference
Rajasthani Dance Narratives
RAJASTHANI DANCE NARRATIVES CONFERENCE
The goal of the HEARTBEAT OF RAJASTHAN FESTIVAL is to celebrate Rajasthani dance in all its diversity! We were particularly interested in bridging gaps between classical (Kathak) and folk dances of Rajasthan through interactions and breaking down pre-packaged historical narratives of performing communities such as the Kalbeliya by delving into current socio-economic issues.
Guru Prerana Shrimali -
SPEAKER: Kathak in Rajasthan
Senior dancer of Jaipur Gharana of Kathak. She was initiated in Kathak dance by Guru Shri Kundan lal Gangani in Jaipur. Later, she was groomed in the art at Kathak Kendra, New Delhi, under Guru late Shri Kundan Lal Gangani of the Jaipur gharana.
Dr Arshiya Sethi
MODERATOR / SPEAKER
Independent scholar, Institution builder and Arts Manager, Dr. Arshiya Sethi, writes and speaks on cultural issues, internationally, on her research and administrative experience with the arts, particularly dance.
Dr Ayla Joncheere
SPEAKER: The Rhythms of Rajasthan & the Decline of Instrumental Diversity
Currently an Associate professor at IIT Jodhpur she was born into an artist family in Belgium, Joncheere discovered Rajasthani arts at the age of 12 and earned her PhD (2016) at Ghent University, specializing in ethnography, cultural anthropology.
Our Festival Dance Teachers
Our festival teachers come from diverse communities (Kalbeliya, Rajput, etc) of Rajasthan and will be in conversation about their current experiences, hopes and dreams for their dance futures.
REGISTER FOR THE CONFERENCE:
Register here by making a donation of any amount to the Kalbeliya Arts Education Initiative. You will receive access to the Zoom conference meeting and recording links.
JOIN THE CONFERENCE
REGISTRATION
Option 1 : FULL FESTIVAL PASS 5-Days of full access!
25 hours of all Master Dance Classes: Kalbeliya Singing & Dance Workshops with various teachers including (Asha & Rani Sapera), Ghoomar with Sheetal Rathore, Chari (pot balancing), Rajasthani semi-classical choreography with Nishtha Agarwal!
3 Performances (2 private concerts)
Online Conference: Rajasthani Dance Narratives Past & Present
Your participation directly sponsors the Kalbeliya Arts Education Initiative! Our invited master teachers will be conducting professional dance and music workshops for local under privileged children - our future performers!
Option 2 : Kathak Dance Track
All Kathak Classical Dance Classes: Technique & Sufi Kathak Choreography (10 hours intensive)
3 Performances (2 private concerts)
Online Conference: Rajasthani Dance Narratives Past & Present
Your participation directly sponsors the Kalbeliya Arts Education Initiative! Our invited master teachers will be conducting professional dance and music workshops for local under privileged children - our future performers!
Option 3 : Rajasthani Dance & Music Track
Kalbeliya Singing & Dance Workshops with various teachers including (Asha & Rani Sapera), Ghoomar with Sheetal Rathore, Chari (pot balancing), Rajasthani semi-classical choreography with Nishtha Agarwal!
3 Performances (2 private concerts)
Live Conference: Rajasthani Dance Narratives Past & Present
Your participation directly sponsors the Kalbeliya Arts Education Initiative! Our invited master teachers will be conducting professional dance and music workshops for local under privileged children - our future performers!
Option 4 : Single Day Pass
All day classes (approximately 5 hours) & Performance or Conference of the Day. Please check festival Schedule.
INR Cash or Gpay accepted ‘at the door’.
Your participation directly sponsors the Kalbeliya Arts Education Initiative! Our invited master teachers will be conducting professional dance and music workshops for local under privileged children - our future performers!
Option 5 : Single Class Pass
Please check festival Schedule
INR Cash or Gpay accepted ‘at the door’.
Your participation directly sponsors the Kalbeliya Arts Education Initiative! Our invited master teachers will be conducting professional dance and music workshops for local under privileged children - our future performers!
Option 5 : ONLINE PARTICIPATION
ALL CLASSES RECORDED - RECORDINGS AVAILABLE FOR 1 WEEK
5 Master Dance Classes Includes: Rajputi Ghoomar with Sheetal Rathore, Kathak Classical Sufi Dance with Shruti Mishra, Kalbeliya Song and Dance with Asha & Rani Sapera and Contemporary Rajasthani Choreography with Nishtha Agarwal.
Each day receive class with a different Master Teacher to give a well-rounded understanding of Rajasthani dances
If signing up for your group, please each pay and register ‘per person’ - your registration fees funds our Kalbeliya Arts Education Initiative for under privileged young Kalbeliya performers.
Live Online Conference: Rajasthani Dance Narratives Past & Present
Your participation directly sponsors the Kalbeliya Arts Education Initiative! Our invited master teachers will be conducting professional dance and music workshops for local under privileged children - our future performers!
Kalbeliya Arts Education Initiative
Your participation in this festival directly funds an empowerment project for young women artists of the Kalbeliya community who are often the sole earners of their families. We are:
Offering educational opportunities for them as young performers to hone their craft and learn from experts in their field
Create performance opportunities that embolden their confidence to keep up their traditional songs and dance culture
Archiving and documenting dissapearing song repertoire of the Kalbeliya community that speaks of their once nomadic lifestyle
Last year these ‘illiterate’ young dancers/performers got the chance to learn Kathak classical dance techniques and Kalbeliya singing with superstar singer of their community - Asha Sapera. This year we will offer a demonstration/concert from their workshops.