Jaineet Kaur, an 11-year-old student of Class VII at Guru Nanak Public School, Sarabha Nagar, Ludhiana, is set to headline her maiden kathak concert on July 18 at her school. The event will be attended by kathak maestro Rajinder Gangani and several other dignitaries.
Family Legacy and Early Training
Jaineet is a disciple of her mother, kathak exponent Shubhjeet Kaur. Her passion for music and dance runs in the blood: her great grandfather, Kartar Singh, was a 'hazuri ragi' at Nankana Sahib in Pakistan and the Golden Temple in Amritsar. She began her dance journey at the age of three and a half, practicing five to six hours daily.
National Recognition and Awards
Jaineet has won three times representing Punjab at the national level. She was also honored by Punjab Education Minister Harjot Singh Bains for her dancing talent. Over the years, she has performed at venues including Lovely Professional University, Jalandhar; Tagore Theatre, Chandigarh; Punjabi University, Patiala; Kalidas Sanskriti Auditorium, Madhya Pradesh; and APJ College of Fine Arts, Jalandhar.
Versatile Dance Skills
Besides kathak, Jaineet has learned Bollywood, contemporary, and folk dances of Punjab, Haryana, and Rajasthan from her mother. She performs 'Bhavai dance', a folk dance from Rajasthan, in which she balances eight pots on her head while using other props. She first performed Bhavai at Pracheen Kala Kendra in Chandigarh when she was just five years old.
Disciplined Routine and Gharana Training
Jaineet follows a disciplined routine of diet, exercise, morning prayers, and studies. She is currently learning kathak from both the Jaipur and Lucknow gharanas. She has also worked as a child actor in the Punjabi film 'Zilla Ludhiana' and was awarded the Punjab number one icon title. Her talent has been recognized by renowned kathak legends Prerna Shirimali and Rajinder Gangani.
