Reviews
Publication: The Hindu
Reviewer: Leela Venkataramana
Date of Publication: Delhi, Friday, September 2, 2006
Subject: Teaching
Title: Diligent Training
The Society for Action Through Music under Vijay Shankar Mishra mounted the annual Gama Maharaj Smitri Samaroh, featuring the UK-based young Amy Patel, discipline of Kathak dancer Abhay Shankar Mishra, now teaching at Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, London. His clean dance profile, clarity of padhant and tala grasp in both the Teen tala and the Dhamar nritta spoke of diligent training, with even items like paran, permelu and ladi correctly tendered.
Publication: Dance Expressions
Location: London, UK
Date of Publication: April 2005
Title: The Story of Kathak
A troupe of Indian dancers under creative director Abhay Shankar Mishra presented The Story of Kathak, a journey form an ancient era to modern times, at the Bhavan Auditorium in West London in February.
Publication: The Hindu
Reviewer: Leela Venkataramana
Date of Publication: Delhi, Friday, September 2, 2006
Subject: Performances
Title: Diligent Training
Kathak duet with wife Kakoli, Abhay Shankar Mishra was in his element, his strong presence in tasteful attire sporting the right blend of guru bhakti and quiet confidence. Combining grace wit precision were upaj, uthan and the Jaipur Gharana gems like pippilika yeti.
Publication: Pulse Magazine for Arts Council England
Reviewer: Kush Saini
Date of Publication: London, 10, June 2005
Subject: Abhay Shankar Mishra and Kakoli, Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan
Title: The engaging husband and wife team…
They are undoubtedly a respected, talented team with a vast knowledge and experience of their art form. They were innovative in sections.
No doubt this is only the “beginning” of their wealth of exciting work they intend to present to us in the future.
Publication: National Herald
Reviewer: V.K. Rangra
Date of Publication: New Delhi, Monday, October 25, 2005
Location: Performed on September 2, 2005, at Kamani Auditorium, New Delhi
The duo also give vent to their creative moorings by making new compositions. They have performed at international forums leaving behind lot of admirers and fan-followers.
The young ebullient with their mudras synchronising with the ‘bhavas’ and the matching body movements and foot-work all set to immaculate rhythmic patterns did full justice to the divine theme.
Sufiana kalam by Abhay Shankar Mishra depicting spiritual yearnings of the soul to meat its creator was subtly and sensitively portrayed.
Publication: Return to Traditional Eastern Values
Reviewer: Sarah Frater
Date of Publication: 10 March 2004, Evening Standard
Location: Nina Rajarani Dance Creation/Equilibrium, Purcell Room
After much recent mixing of Indian and European dance forms, it’s tantalising change to see Indian dance on its own. Admittedly, Nina Rajarani’s recital in the Purcell Room includes her own Bharatanatyam with the Kathak of co-dancer Abhay Shankar Mishra, plus English language poems by Gopi Warrier, and new and traditional Indian music, so it is also a bit of mix. However, all the elements feel emphatically Asian.
Publication: India Link International
Date of Publication: April-May 2004
Location: Equilibrium at Queen’s Theatre Hornchurch
Presented by Shrishti – Nina Rajarani Dance Creations
Title: Nina Rijarani and Abhay Shankar Mishra
Equilibrium in life, as in performance, is achieved when a balance is struck between Antarang, one’s hidden inner self and Bahirang, one’s conscious outward projection.
The first part of the Dance Drama, Antarang, The Inner Self, is based on the eternal theme of Shiva and parvati, the universal representatives of man and woman. In this part, classical Bharat Natyam and Kathak dominate. Abhay Shankar Mishra and Rajarani foth faithfully interpret the story of the origin of the universal attributes which bring harmony.
Publication: The Hindu
Reviewer: Leela Venkataramana
Date of Publication: Friday, March 10, 2000
Location: Delhi
Title: Spirited Kathak
For providing and ending with a bang, Sangeet Natak Akademi and the audience have to thank the Kathak threesome Abhay Shankar Mishra, Abhimanyu Lal and Parveen Gangani. What with a percussion interlude with the three dancers themselves becoming drummers
In generally high standard of proficiency, this critic would put Abhay Shankar Mishra on top.
Publication: Neighbourhood Flash
Date of Publication: February 20-26, 2000
Location: Delhi
Title: Dancing High
Two disciples of Birju Maharaj, one of the finest and most prominent exponents of Kathak, performed at Tagore Hall, Azad Bhawan last week.
In the presence of their Guru.
The performance of Abhay Shankar Mishra, who took to the stage first, was full of nerve and energy and great technical skill. The crow bestowed the dancers with generous applause as they executed different toads. Their dexterity got appreciative nods from their Guru as well.
Publication: The Statesman
Date of Publication: Friday 26, November 1999
Location: New Delhi
Title: Fine Kathak Recital
Abhay Shankar Mishra’s recital was gratifying success, with displays of sparkling footwork and some sensitive abhinaya, says G S Rajan
The selection of items also reflected the training he has received under a range of gurus from Jaipur, Lucknow and Banaras Gharanas. Abhay Shankar Mishra is a thinking artist who is obviously making the best use of his time by expanding his horizons while furthering his knowledge of Kathak.
Publication: The Hindu
Reviewer: Leela Venkataramana
Date of Publication: Friday, November 12, 1999
Location: Delhi
Title: Performed Equilibrium with Bharat Natium
This recital at the India International Centre in New Delhi was a triumph of rhythmic variety and dexterity. Smoothly spun chakras, arresting freezes, and a range of less known Tihai, Amad, Paran and Permelu compositions – all rendered with vigour and precision characterised the performance
Publication: Delhi’s City Magazine
Date of Publication: January 1999
Location: First City
Title: Abhay Shankar Mishra, Dancer, Teacher (New Faces)
Keen exponent of the Jaipur style of Kathak dance, Abhay Shankar Mishra has performed major roles in many ballets choreographed by Birju Maharaj, Urmila Nagar and Aditi Mangaldas. He is also an accomplished pakhawaj player. He teaches Kathak at a school in Delhi and works with the Dristikon Dance Foundation.
Publication: The Pioneer
Date of Publication: Monday January 5, 1998
Title: Many Faces of Kathak
Parveen Gangani and Abhay Shankar Mishra danced vigorously displaying aspects of upaj and. Duo gave glimpses of creative footwork.
Publication: The Hindustan Times
Reviewer: Shanta Serbjeet Singh
Date of Publication: Sunday February 6, 2000
Location: New Delhi
Title: Kathak ‘dances’ in Birju Maharaj’s body
Magic, however was created by ‘Holi” danced by Aditi Mangaldas, Malti Shyam, Veronique Azan, Parveen Gangani and Abhay Shankar Mishra. Together and singly, in concept and execution, this group caste a spell over the Rasikas with its fine-tuned understanding of movement and freezes.
Publication: ABC
Reviewer: Madrid en Danza, Espectaculo, El Dunde de Durga Arya
Date of Publication: 1992
Location: Madrid, Spain
Title: La bailarina india salva a “Paseillo” del naufragio
Casta y compas, para quienes fueron les ovaciones mas verdaderas y prolongadas de la noche (que compartio con su companero Abhay Shankar Mishra, bailarin nacido en Denares y necho en Delhi, dueno de un magnifico juego de pies.
El contraste entre la calida de la citada bayadre hindu y el simple oficio del rosto..