Saswati Sen is a recognised dancer of which classical dance form?

Explanation

Saswati Sen is a well-known Kathak dancer and teacher based in Delhi. She is one of the senior disciples of Pandit Birju Maharaj, the most famous Kathak maestro of modern times, and she worked closely with him for several decades as a performer, teacher and partner in his choreographies.

Saswati Sen trained under Pandit Birju Maharaj at the Kathak Kendra in New Delhi, the national institute of Kathak dance run by the Sangeet Natak Akademi. She became known for her graceful, expressive style, typical of the Lucknow gharana, and for her strong rhythmic sense. She performed many lead roles in the dance-dramas choreographed by Birju Maharaj and travelled with him to perform in many countries. She also taught at the Kathak Kendra and at Kalashram, the dance school founded by Birju Maharaj in Delhi, and she has trained many young dancers. She appeared in Satyajit Ray's Hindi film "Shatranj Ke Khilari" (1977), in a dance sequence choreographed by Birju Maharaj.

Kathak is the classical dance of North India. It began as the art of storytellers (kathakars) and developed in the Mughal and Nawabi courts. It has four main gharanas: Lucknow, Jaipur, Banaras and Raigarh. Pandit Birju Maharaj (1938-2022) belonged to the Lucknow gharana, and his students include Saswati Sen, Shovana Narayan, Aditi Mangaldas, Kumudini Lakhia (who also learnt from him) and many others.

Why not the other options?

• ✗Bharatanatyam is associated with dancers such as Rukmini Devi Arundale and Alarmel Valli.
• ✗Kuchipudi is associated with dancers such as Vempati Chinna Satyam and Shobha Naidu.
• ✗Manipuri is associated with dancers such as Guru Bipin Singh and Darshana Jhaveri.