Join us for performances with the Khan Brothers, Maya Sapera’s Dance Company & special guest from India Shila Mehta

In this newsletter

• Join us for performances with the Khan Brothers, M …

  • Saturday 26/7: Performances @ Gentse Feesten ‘Indi …

    • 14h - Music performance by Kabir Khan & Sattar Kha …

    • 20h - Kathak dance performance ‘Women Speak, Inspi …

  • Monday 28/7: Lecture on the history of Indian danc …

  • Thursday 31/7: solo recital by Shila Mehta @ Espac …

  • Friday 1/8 & Saturday 2/8: Kathak workshops in Ghe …

    • Kathak?

    • Meet Guru Shila Mehta

• Practical: overview and details

  • Overview activities

  • Practical details

Saturday 26/7: Performances @ Gentse Feesten ‘Indian Saturday’

14h - Music performance by Kabir Khan & Sattar Khan

Sitarist Kabir Khan and multi-instrumentalist Sattar Khan invite you to an intimate performance next to the river Leie. They play classical and traditional tunes from their region of origin, the desert state of Rajasthan in India. Come join them at 2 PM this Saturday, 26/7, at the ‘Bord de l’eau’ stage in the Baudelopark.

20h - Kathak dance performance ‘Women Speak, Inspired by Mahasati’

Women Speak, inspired by Mahasati. An Indian dance performance — a powerful narrative on universal womanhood — created by Shila Mehta and Maya Sapera, returns to Belgium!

After its Belgian premiere in 2019 and a special staging at the NCPA in Mumbai in 2024, the performance is back — this time as part of the iconic Gentse Feesten!

📅 Date: July 28
⏰ Time: 20:00
📍 Location: Baudelopark – Bord de l’Eau, Ghent

Don’t miss this moving celebration of resilience, grace, and collective feminine power — told through the language of dance and storytelling. Joining Shila Mehta and Maya Sapera on stage are:

• Mahabub Khan (voice)

• Sattar Khan (percussion)

• Yuka Numao, Aaricia Ponnet, Amber Bosteels, Shanti De Bruyne, Rakhi Sahoo, Sonam Verma, Yewo Verbeken, Edith Vanhee (dance)

Monday 28/7: Lecture on the history of Indian dance @ Ghent University

This talk explores the history and transcendental nature of Indian dance arts. It traces their roots and evolution through time, emphasising the Rasa theory from the Natyashastra- ancient text of Indian classical Dance. The presentation connects these dance forms to the Vedas, Sanskrit texts, and Upanishadic philosophy, emphasising how Indian dance serves as pointers for exploring human consciousness and the essence of being.

About the speaker: Shila Mehta is currently pursuing her PHD in Transcendental Aspects of Classical Indian Dance- Myth or Real, at Mumbai University from Nalanda Dance Research Centre, Mumbai.

Thursday 31/7: solo recital by Shila Mehta @ Espace Tarab Brussels

Join us for an intimate and captivating Kathak dance performance by Guru Shila Mehta, a master of Indian classical dance Kathak. Set in the beautiful and cosy setting of Espace Tarab, this exclusive recital offers a rare opportunity to witness the elegance, rhythm, and storytelling of Kathak in an immersive and personal setting.

Following last year’s sold-out recital in Ghent, we are honoured to present this special evening once again, in Brussels this time! Whether you're a dance enthusiast or curious about world cultures, this event is not to be missed.

When and where: Thursday, 31 July 2025 8 PM | Espace Tarab, Brussels (near metro station Roodebeek)

Friday 1/8 & Saturday 2/8: Kathak workshops in Ghent

Come and join us and learn more about the beautiful dance styles of Kathak! Seize this unique opportunity to learn and train with Shila Mehta, an exquisite artist and teacher from India. We organise an open-level workshop and an intermediate-level workshop open to beginners in Ghent:

• Intermediate level: Friday 1/8 from 7 - 9 PM, and Saturday 2/8 from 2 - 5 PM

• Open level: Saturday 2/8 from 7 - 9 PM

For dancers with more experience in Indian dance, there is the opportunity to follow private classes. Please contact [email protected] for inquiries.

Kathak?

Kathak is a classical Indian dance style, known for the following elements:

• Tatkar: intricate footwork performed with precision, creating various rhythmic sound patterns

• Chakkar: swift and graceful spins executed with control and balance, often in rapid succession

• Bhav: expression of emotion through facial expressions and body language, conveying the mood or story of the dance

• Hastak: elegant hand movements that accompany and enhance the dance

• Gat: stylized movements that portray a character or scene, often involving slow, graceful gestures and walking patterns to depict a narrative

• Mudras: specific hand gestures symbolising objects, ideas or emotions, adding depth to the storytelling aspects of the dance

• Tihai: a rhythmic phrase or pattern repeated three times that concludes on the first beat (sam), creating a sense of resolution in the composition

• Abhinaya: the art of expression, combining facial expressions, gestures and movements to communicate the emotions and meaning of the story to the audience

• Transcendence: by ENGAGING with these aspects of dance, we uncover spiritual dimensions and inner connections, pushing beyond our boundaries to attain a deeper level of awareness

• Well-being: classical Indian Dance benefits psychological well-being

Meet Guru Shila Mehta

Since 2007, Kathak Guru Vidushi Shila Mehta has been a beloved figure in the Indian dance community in Belgium, where she shares her expertise in Kathak and folk forms like Garba. Together with Maya Sapera, she founded the Belgian branch of her institute Nupur Zankar, raising the level of Kathak education through regular classes in Ghent, collaborations across genres, and acclaimed performances such as Women Speak. A lifelong learner, Shila continuously deepens her artistic practice—currently through a PhD on the transcendental aspects of Indian classical dance—while inspiring students as a performer, educator, and visionary thinker. Our courses at MSDC (Nupur Zankar Belgium) proudly follow her lineage and teachings.

Practical: overview and details

Overview activities

Practical details