Chitresh Das, influential Kathak dancer and educator, dies

Pandit Chitresh Das, master of the classic Indian movement form Kathak, died in Marin County over the weekend. Pandit Chitresh Das, master of the classic Indian movement form Kathak, died in Marin County over the weekend. Photo: Darryl Bush / SFC Photo: Darryl Bush / SFC Image 1 of / 12 Caption Close Chitresh Das, influential Kathak dancer and educator, dies 1 / 12 Back to Gallery

Chitresh Das, a mesmerizing Kolkata-born performer of the North Indian classical Indian dance form Kathak and a great educator in the form throughout the Bay Area and the United States, died of an aortic dissection Sunday in Marin County. He was 70.

Mr. Das was the most familiar figure on the busy Bay Area Indian dance scene and frequently performed locally, as recently as September.

In 1979, he started the Chhandam School of Kathak to instruct a younger generation in the art of Kathak, a semi-narrative form of movement. In 2002, he founded the Chhandam Nritya Bharati in his native India. Today, there are 10 branches of his school worldwide.

Mr. Das’ parents, who were both dancers, established one of India’s first Kathak institutions, and he often referred to his mother as his “first guru.”

Born Nov. 9, 1944, in Kolkata, he began his study of Kathak at 9 under master Pandit Ram Narayan Misra and by age 11 had achieved fame throughout India.

Mr. Das came to the United States to teach Kathak at the University of Maryland on a fellowship in 1970. The next year, he was invited by the sarodist Ustad Ali Akbar Khan to teach and set up a dance program at the Ali Akbar College of Music in San Rafael. In 1979, he left to form his own dance school.

In time, schools of Kathak were established throughout the Bay Area. It is estimated that more than 550 students are enrolled.

Mr. Das also formed the first university accredited Kathak course at San Francisco State University. He taught at Stanford University and returned to India annually to teach and perform.

As a solo performer, Mr. Das proved an uncommonly entertaining exponent of Kathak. His slashing rhythmic attack, electrifying footwork, dazzling turns and verbalizations, all accompanied by the ringing of the weighty bells he wore around his ankles, won him lifelong fans. He was also an extraordinary movement storyteller, with his expressive fingers evoking animal life and traditional deities.

One of Mr. Das’ final evening-length works, “Shiva,” will be revived March 28 and 29 at UC Berkeley’s Zellerbach Hall.

Mr. Das is survived by his wife, Celine, and daughters Shivaranjani and Saadhvi. A memorial service will be announced later.

Allan Ulrich is The San Francisco Chronicle’s dance correspondent.