Youth Voices - Avani Viswanathan
Avani Viswanathan began studying Kathak in 2012 at Pandit Chitresh Das’ original institution, Chhandam, and continued at the Chitresh Das Institute and was a student at its first session in 2017. But she was of course exposed to it at a much earlier age, as her mother, Asavari Ukidve, a senior and beloved teacher at CDI, and Assistant Youth Company Director, had already started dancing in the classes at Chhandam in 1999 and eventually took classes with Pandit Chitresh Das himself. Avani joined the Youth Company in 2018. Avani will be performing in “Aastha”, showcasing the elements of the most traditional, rich, and challenging form of kathak, the kathak solo. She will share the stage with her guru-behen Ayana Modi on August 2, 2025 at 5pm at College of San Mateo Theater.
Training for this performance is intense. Though it requires nowhere near the challenge and skill needed for a full kathak solo in the style/gharana of Pandit Chitresh Das, it is always a formidable challenge. Guided by the guru, it is a journey even to just dip one’s feet (quite literally) into this powerful tradition. The dancers are also fortunate to perform with brilliant musicians: Ben Kunin - on sarod, Nilan Chaudhuri - on tabla, Saneyee Purandare Bhattacharjee - on vocals, Narendra Joshi - on harmonium, Guru Charlotte Moraga - Artistic Director and padhant. Limited tickets are available, please contact info@chitreshdasinstitute.org with any requests.
Q: What do you want people to know about your kathak journey?
Avani: I think it’s important that people know how much the sisterhood of the youth company helped me in my journey. Though I started learning at the age of 5 and was exposed to it slightly earlier than some others due to being the daughter of a teacher, it wasn’t until I formed friendships with many of my fellow dancers that my connection to the dance was solidified. The relationships which I formed with my fellow dancers, as well as teachers and older Didis have greatly aided my dance over the years. Having friends to look forward to seeing in class every week and people to look up to was really beneficial to my improvement and my motivation, especially when I started in the youth company.
Q: What is it like working with Charlotte Didi to prepare for your graduating showcase?
Avani: The preparation process as a whole is very intense, but I can tell that it’s going to be really formative. I know that I’ll look back on it in a few months or years and be proud and impressed with myself for getting through it. Working with Charlotte Didi has been very impactful because of how she has helped me play into my strengths while showing me where there is room for improvement and teaching me the best ways to execute that improvement.
Q: Do you remember a moment or a time when you decided you wanted to pour your heart into learning kathak?
Avani: There have been a couple moments when I either decided to pour my heart into kathak or was reaffirmed that my decision to do so was the right one. As someone who has been a teaching assistant to young kids' classes for a long time, it’s always really rewarding to see a kid’s passion grow and to sometimes be the inspiration for that always makes me happy about the path I chose. When I was young, seeing the youth company perform always inspired me, so the idea of being that for someone else makes me proud and grateful to myself and those around me for continuing my dance.
Q: How has what you've done and learned in kathak impacted your day-to=day life?
Avani: There have been a lot of lessons that I initially learned in the context of Kathak which I later applied to my everyday life. A lot of my skills related to teamwork trace back to my experience with it in Kathak, specifically in the youth company. A really important lesson that I had to learn for myself in Kathak is that my biggest and only competition in life is myself, no matter how much people, including myself, might make it seem otherwise sometimes. With the youth company being what it is, people sometimes might assume it’s a highly competitive environment, but in reality there's only as much competition as you decide there is. From Kathak I’ve applied this to other aspects of my life as well, especially in school. It especially came in handy going to what many would call a “competitive” high school.
Q: What is something that you have discovered through dance that you would like to share?
Avani: One important lesson I’ve learned through dance is a “fake it till you make it” attitude. Though I don’t think I’ve yet gotten to the point where I am applying it perfectly, I’m always striving to be there. No matter what happens in a performance or an audition or even in class, the best possible reaction to have is to pretend that everything is perfect, because if you don’t show that something went wrong in your face or your dance, there's a good chance that the mistake will go unnoticed. Also, even when I don’t feel confident, pretending that I am eventually results in me actually feeling that way, and I apply this to all aspects of my life.
Q: What is one thing about learning kathak that you think people should know?
Avani: I think that people should be aware of how much mental work goes into learning kathak and getting to the point of preparing to do a graduating showcase. The dedication and mental and emotional durability required aren’t always obvious and overt to someone looking in from the outside, but they’re equally important to physical development. A dancer's physical journey is visible to an audience member, but their emotional journey isn’t always apparent, so I think it’s important for people to be aware of it.
Q: What is next for you, what are you most excited about doing?
Avani: I’m going to be attending Purdue University next year and majoring in Visual Communication Design. I’m very excited to go there and meet new people and explore new opportunities. I hope to join as many clubs as possible and take every chance I can to step out of my comfort zone, and also plan to continue dancing however I can!
Q: If you were to send a message of advice to your 10 year old self, what would you tell her?
Avani: I would tell her to keep dancing, obviously, but also to never be afraid to put her ideas out there, because keeping them inside does no one any favors. I’d also tell her that no matter how much of a rollercoaster life might seem like, there are always ups after the downs, and to have faith in that.
“Aastha” featuring Avani Viswanathan and Ayana Modi in their Youth Company Graduating Showcase,
August 2, 2025 at 5pm at College of San Mateo Theater
Brilliant Musicians: Ben Kunin - on sarod, Nilan Chaudhuri - on tabla, Saneyee Purandare Bhattacharjee - on vocals, Narendra Joshi - on harmonium, Guru Charlotte Moraga - Artistic Director and padhant.
Limited tickets available, please contact info@chitreshdasinstitute.org with any requests.