A young Sikh artiste’s Kathak journey
Taranjot Singh, a 21-year-old Sikh dancer from Ludhiana, is gaining recognition for his mastery of Kathak. His journey highlights the intersection of personal identity, cultural expectations, and the pursuit of classical dance.
Why it matters
His story challenges traditional gender and cultural stereotypes within the Indian classical dance community.
The first thing that strikes you is the jingles from Taranjot Singh’s ghungroos. And then you meet a young sikh man in a turban, moving through the intricate tatkar, chakars and tukras of Kathak with the intensity of someone who has found a language of his own. For a 21-year-old dancer from Ludhiana, this journey carries a significance that goes beyond dance. Not because men are unfamiliar in Indian classical dance — traditions have been shaped by legends such as Pt. Birju Maharaj, Guru Kelucharan Mohapatra and Kalamandalam Gopi, among others — but because Taranjot grew up in a world where he was expected to find his expression in forms such as Bhangra.
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