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The exciting young Kathak artist Gaurav Bhatti sat down with us to talk about his new work Bulleh Shah: Seeker of Light, which premieres March 28-29 as part of our Global Dance Connections series.

Briefly describe your dance career to date.

My artistic journey has spanned ten years and has been an incredibly fulfilling one. I’ve had the opportunity and privilege of training in various traditional Indian styles, including Classical Kathak and the Uday Shankar style from the West Bengal region.

I’ve had the opportunity to work with renowned dance companies, including the Aditi Mangaldas Dance Company in India and the Aakash Odedra Company in the UK. These experiences have not only honed my craft but also inspired me to push the boundaries of traditional Indian dance.

Currently, I’m focused on exploring new ways to express myself through movement and storytelling. I’m excited to see where my passion for dance takes me next and look forward to continuing to share my love of dance with audiences around the world.

When and why did you start studying Kathak?

Growing up in a small village in Punjab, I was always intrigued by the classical dances I saw in Bollywood movies, but it wasn’t until I moved to Canada that I discovered my own passion for dance. In high school, I began performing during cultural shows, Diwali events, and other community gatherings. It was during this time that I met like-minded individuals who shared my interest in Indian classical dance.

I began studying Kathak when I was 23 years old, during my university days, when I met a group of classical dancers who inspired me with their elegance and poise. Although I wasn’t formally trained in Bollywood dance, I was always a huge fan and enjoyed dancing to Bollywood numbers. I didn’t think I needed formal training at the time, and my passion for Bollywood dance was purely driven by my love for the music and the energy.

I was invited to join their dance class, and that’s how I met my guru, Saveeta Sharma who runs the ‘Upasana the Spirit of Dance’ school in Ottawa. I still remember my first day in class, walking in wearing jeans and a T-shirt, unaware of the traditional attire. Saveeta ji welcomed me with open arms.

Growing up in Punjab, dance was not considered a conventional career path for either boys or girls. In fact, it was often looked down upon. However, this didn’t deter me from pursuing my dream. When I discovered Kathak, I instantly knew I had found a way to express myself and connect with my cultural heritage.

What are the main elements in your choreography?

There are a few key elements that make my work resonate. As a Kathak dancer I’m obsessed with rhythm and timing. I believe that’s where the magic happens – when the rhythm can evoke powerful emotions and tell intricate stories.

Then comes emotional expression. I draw on my own experiences and emotions to craft movements that feel authentic and relatable.

Storytelling is also a huge part of my work. Kathak is all about telling stories, and I love drawing inspiration from mythology, literature, and personal experiences to craft narratives that feel both universal and deeply personal.

Music is also a vital part of my choreography. I love collaborating with musicians to create original scores that complement my movements.

In terms of my artistic practice, I’d say it’s rooted in traditional Kathak, but with a contemporary sensibility. I draw my core movement vocabulary from Kathak, but I also love incorporating movements from outside the tradition – think Punjabi folk dances and Western forms – and pushing the boundaries to create something new and innovative.

Tell us about Bulleh Shah: Seeker of Light.

This is a project that’s really close to my heart. Growing up in Punjab, I was surrounded by this incredibly rich cultural heritage that goes back thousands of years. But what struck me was that Punjab’s unique cultural identity was missing from the Indian classical arts scene. As a dancer, I felt this strong urge to reclaim Punjab’s place within that tradition.

I drew inspiration from Bulleh Shah, the 17th -century Sufi saint and poet who preached about universal love and rejecting divisions based on identity. What really resonated with me was his emphasis on finding the divine within yourself, rather than following external rules. Growing up in a family with different religious affiliations, I was encouraged to explore my own spiritual path. And what I found was that beneath all the superficial differences, there’s this common core of love and empathy.

That’s what I’m trying to convey through this work – this message of shared humanity that transcends borders. Collaborating with artists from diverse backgrounds has been an incredible experience. We’re blending traditional and contemporary elements – music, lighting, drama – to create something truly unique.

The themes feel especially relevant today, when we’re seeing so much polarization and violence based on identity. I hope that by drawing on Bulleh Shah’s wisdom, I can create a work that inspires people to seek out that common ground that connects us all.

If you didn’t have a career in dance, what might you be doing?

I think I would’ve ended up as a painter or sculptor. I was actually studying visual arts at the University of Ottawa, where I completed my BFA. So the creative industry is where I would see myself.

I reckon I would’ve made a passionate visual artist. But dance kind of… found me, and I’m really glad it did. Even though I was studying visual arts, I just couldn’t shake off my passion for dance, and I’m stoked to have made a career out of it.

What is your next project?

My next project is still in the gestation phase – I have an idea simmering in the back of my mind. I’m envisioning a group work that brings together dancers from diverse backgrounds and styles. I’m drawn to the mythology of Dashavatar, the ten incarnations of Lord Vishnu, the preserver and protector of the universe and one of the gods in the Hindu triumvirate. I think it would be fascinating to explore this theme through dance.

I’ve revelled working on my current solo piece, but I’m eager to collaborate with multiple bodies in space. I am fascinated by the idea of exploring the architecture of the performance, playing with lines, dimensions, and seeing how the dancers interact with each other.

The possibilities are endless, and I can hardly wait to see how it all unfolds!

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The Dance Centre and New Works present
Gaurav Bhatti
Bulleh Shah: Seeker of Light
Friday-Saturday March 28 & 29 | 8pm
Tickets $37/$28 students & seniors (+ $1 facility fee)
Details

Photos: Innee Singh and Max Jamali 

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