A popular face on the television, actress and Kathak dancer 'Prachee Shah Paandya' was recently in the city for a kathak event. Known for her roles in serials like 'Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi', 'Iss Pyaar Ko Kya Naam Doon..Ek Baar Phir', the actress revealed that Kathak will always remain her first love. "Even though I am not able to practice Kathak daily these days because of my hectic schedule, I still try to take time out twice or thrice in a week for it. Kathak will always remain close to my heart," says the Mulk actress, adding, "Kathak concerts are really appreciated abroad. We get better response for Kathak performances in foreign countries." Prachee goes on to add, "Indian culture is more appreciated there and the audience there is very keen to know Indian classical dance forms. However, I sometimes get disheartened to see Indians practicing more of western dance forms. If you go abroad, you will find a lot of foreigners learning Indian classical dance forms."

Talk to this hardcore classical dancer about the present generation coming up with different fusion forms of classical dance and she says, "I am very rigid with my thought process when it comes to fusion with Kathak, at least I have not done it till now. One has to change with time but there should be a limit to that! A person should not lose the originality of any art form. A bit of fusion in classical dance form is understandable but nowadays the scene is opposite. I do not see myself doing fusion at all!"

Prachee feels that the essence of the classical dance form is lost, especially when kids do a fusion of Kathak. "I feel great when small children perform Kathak. Unfortunately, most of the dance reality shows on TV today focus more on western dance forms. And even if they show classical dance performances, they are not purely classical. Classical dance forms have their own flavour, which we all should retain in the purest form for future generations."

Ask Prachee about her opinion on the recent advisory of the I&B Ministry to the makers of kids’ reality shows to not make kids’ performances look vulgar and indecent and she says, "I am so glad that the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting issued an advisory to all the channels hosting kids’ dance and reality shows and asked them to desist from showing children in a vulgar, indecent and inappropriate manner. Children, performing in reality shows, do not even know what they are doing. The makers of kids’ dance reality shows are forgetting that these kids are still very young to be given such performances. They are unaware of what they are doing. So their innocence should not be taken for granted."