Menka
Growing up, Menka was dance captain at school and put together many dance concerts for school fundraisers. Formal dance training began when she started learning Flamenco in Spain. Tracing the roots of Flamenco, she started learning Kathak with Smt. Neesha Jhaveri in Hong Kong. She then performed her Rang Pravesh in 2007 and did her Visharad in 2019. Prior to Kathak, she had learnt Architecture, Flamenco, Tabla and Classical Singing. She believes her exposure with music and art contributed to her being a holistic dancer.
Menka has performed in Taiwan, Hong Kong, Spain, India and soon Canada. She was the dance director and choreographer for the dance drama "Surya 108" which was performed all over India through Chinmaya Mission. She has been a teacher under Sri Shakti Academy HK and was invited by Taipei American School to speak to IB students about Kathak. Her forte is using the traditional art form to choreograph pieces that relate to current social themes while also teaching children the spiritual essence behind the dance pieces they learn that are taken from the puranas. She often spends time to explain students the spiritual lesson and stories behind the dance pieces, so they understand dance has a technical side but is also meditation in motion. Currently, she teaches Kathak, Yoga and Meditation to children and young adults in Vancouver, Canada.
The following is a list of a few performances by Menka
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Bhuj Earthquake Fundraising Show 2001, Madrid Spain
Rang Pravesh 2007, Hong Kong
Baroda Classical Dance Festival 2007, Baroda, India
Surya Fundraiser show 2008-2009, All over India and Hong Kong (18 shows)
We the change Fundraiser show 2017, Hong Kong
Journey of the Soul Dance Drama, 2018-2019 Taipei, Taiwan & Hong Kong
Rhythm and Rocks by We the Change Nov 2021, Hong Kong
70th Republic Day Indian Council Hong Kong
Samaan, April 2023, Hong Kong
Namaste Canada, Sept 2023, Vancouver
Shadbolt Theatre, Sept 2023, Vancouver
Megafest Surrey, Oct 2023, Vancouver
Lakshmi Narayan Temple, Oct 2023, Vancouver
Wesbrook Community Centre, Diwali, Nov 2023, Vancouver