Pittsburgh · Founded 2004
A Center Stage for Indian Dances
An Indian classical and folk dance school in Pittsburgh, teaching Kathak of the Benaras gharana together with the folk and film dances of India.
The school
Modern life has become mechanical, mundane and stressful, leaving everyone in pursuit of some form of fun. Dance introduces a facet of yourself you may never have known existed. You discover confidence that routine had buried, and above all it allows you to have fun — simple, exhilarating fun.
Culture and spirituality have long defined India to the rest of the world. If they are the flavors of India, then dance is its punch. It is one form of art considered both sacred and spiritual in India, used to pay tribute to the Gods. Guiding you into this world of Indian dance forms, and introducing them in their truest authentic form, is Guiding Star Productions.
Situated in the North Hills and South Hills of Pittsburgh, USA, Guiding Star Productions is the endeavor of Varun Mahajan and Sonia Mahajan, who wish to blossom South Asian dance culture beyond the shores of India. Creating awareness, appreciation, and education about Indian dances in Pittsburgh is the mission of this dancing couple.
Programs
The school specializes in Kathak following the famed Benaras gharana; Punjabi folk dances including Bhangra and Gidha; Rajasthani Ghoomar and Kalbelia; semi-classical forms; Bollywood dance; and fusion sequences.
01
Primary classical program
North India · Benaras gharana
Classical storytelling
Derived from katha, the art of storytelling. Kathak conveys ancient stories through mudra, facial expression, and footwork, accompanied by ghungroo and tabla.
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02
Punjab
Punjabi harvest dance
Energetic, acrobatic, and captivating. Bhangra is native to Punjab and celebrates the joyous time of harvest with drums and Punjabi lyrics.
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03
Punjab
Punjabi women’s folk
The women of Punjab express festivity at Lohri or Teej through Giddha — as energetic as Bhangra, with claps, bolis, and drums.
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04
Gujarat
Gujarati stick dance
Swaying color, foot-tapping beats, and the rhythmic clatter of sticks. Dandiya traces its roots to Gujarat and is danced in its glory during Navratri.
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05
Rajasthan
Rajasthani folk
Sinuous movement and body sways, traditionally in black garments with silver embroidery, performed on the been associated with snake charmers.
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06
Rajasthan
Rajasthani turns
A Rajasthani dance performed by women in bright lehengas, turning and gyrating to songs of victory and valor.
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07
Indian cinema
Film dance
Bollywood names the Indian film industry, and dance is integral to it. These dances are fast, energetic, and in tune with current styles.
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08
Contemporary Indian dance
Lighter classical · east-west music
Semi-classical dance retains the essence of classical form with easier movement. Fusion sets Indian dance steps to music that joins eastern and western sound.
Explore programHeritage
Classical dances in olden days were temple dances and therefore considered highly sacred. Guiding Star Productions aims to portray that richness and teach these hues of Indian dance to students keen to learn them in this part of the world.
Being trained Indian dancers themselves, Varun and Sonia understood the vacuum created by the absence of a Kathak school teaching this classical form alongside other Indian dances in the Pittsburgh area. They took it upon themselves to introduce Kathak and a plethora of exuberant Indian dance forms to the people of Pittsburgh.
Dance is one form of art whose roots can be traced well beyond the Stone Age. Happiness or sadness — whatever the emotion — dancing provides an outlet to emote one’s feelings. India has a long association with rich and diverse dance forms. Different parts of the country have their own classical dances, and these can be traced back to a common source, the Natyasastra written by Bharata. That sacred text holds the details of postures, hand movements or mudras, and music. Indian dance forms are broadly classified as classical dance and regional folk dances.
Read the school storyRecitals
The live site’s most complete highlight videos are from 2019. Later years are structured for the archive and marked in progress.
Faculty
Co-founder
Before receiving a master’s degree in Indian classical dances at the Nateshwar Kala Mandir Institute, Ms. Mahajan studied extensively under guru Shri Beeru Pawar ji, who introduced her to many forms of Indian classical and folk dances.
Ms. Mahajan eventually earned Visharad under the guidance of guru Surinder Kumar ji and Beeru Pawar ji. She specializes in the Banaras and Jaipur gharana style of Kathak along with several other folk dances of India, and has been performing Indian classical and folk dances for many years.
Ms. Mahajan made her acting debut in 2010 as Sundari in Living in America. She played Daisy in the musical Where is the Culture? (2011). Her role of Meera in the musical Arranged Marriage (2013) is described on the existing site as bringing accolades from theater critics and dance connoisseurs.
Contact
Guiding Star Productions teaches in Pittsburgh’s North Hills and South Hills. Write or call using the details published on the existing website.