Dance like a Dream

As Pali Chandra gracefully brushes a strand of hair from her face while swiftly altering stances in front of the camera, it’s easy to see how this dancer from Lucknow, India, came to be an internationally well-known Kathak dancer. Her younger sister, Somna Tugnait — projects director for the dance school Gurukul, looks on, unable to contain her pride. “I used to learn dance too, for about three years. But I got such a complex, learning dance with Pali!,” laughs Tugnait. Born into a household with a very strong cultural setup, Chandra learnt the art of sharing a skill from her mother, who is a classical singer. “Lucknow itself is a very cultural city … the city brought us up,” Pali says, smiling.