The Rhythm of Reason - Kathak’s Numbers, Storytelling & Legacy | Ragini Maharaj | TEDxIIFTDelhi
Ragini Maharaj, scion of the Kalka Bindadeen Gharana, brings classical Kathak to life with warmth, humour and hands-on rhythm. Through memories of learning from her grandfather and lively audience exercises, she demystifies Kathak’s numeric compositions and reveals how dance encodes complex mathematical patterns into joyous movement.She traces how choreography becomes storytelling, from the moral parables of ballets like “Loha” to playful pieces about bureaucracy, and argues that dance transcends gender: through expression one can embody both Shiva and Parvati, Krishna and Radha. Her talk is part history lesson, part interactive masterclass, and a passionate plea for greater respect and understanding of India’s classical performers. Ragini Maharaj, granddaughter of Pandit Birju Maharaj, is a distinguished Kathak dancer from the Kalka-Bindadin Gharana of Lucknow. Trained under her grandfather and Vidushi Mamta Maharaj, she has performed at renowned festivals across India, the U.S., Japan, South Korea, and Malaysia.She has played key roles in Pt. Birju Maharaj’s dance dramas like Kho-Kho, Meera Hari Rang Rachi, and Krishna-Dhyaan. Honored with awards like the Nritya Shringar Gandharv Award and Tarana Yuva Pratibha Award, she continues to preserve and promote the legacy of Kathak. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx
More from TED
- 10:51Bringing Back Music Lost for 2,500 Years | Tharun Sekar | TEDxElliots BeachWhat does music from 2,500 years ago sound like? Until recently, no one knew.Tarun Sekar, shares how a simple question "Why do we only see Western instruments , where are our own ancient Indian instruments ?"led him on an obsessive journey to resurrect the Yazh, an ancient Tamil harp lost to history for over two millennia. With no working instrument to study, no recordings to guide him, and only fragments of poetry from Sangam literature, Tarun spent a year piecing together clues from ancient texts. His curiosity refused to let him quit & he succeeded in bringing back a sound unlike any Guitar or Veena, a voice from India's forgotten musical past coming alive again. Tarun proves that small curiosities can unbury centuries of silence. His work challenges us to ask: What melodies & wisdom from our own heritage are we ignoring? Can Entrepreneurship be our way to explore our world & build what matters? The Artist who brought Back 2500-Year-Old lost music Instrument This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx
- 11:35Creating an empathetic approach to children’s behavior | David Palmer | TEDxFullertonNOTE FROM TED: This talk only represents the speaker’s personal approach to and understanding of the nervous system and emotional regulation. TEDx events are independently organized by volunteers. The guidelines we give TEDx organizers are described in more detail here: http://storage.ted.com/tedx/manuals/tedx_content_guidelines.pdfWhen a child lashes out, what if it isn’t defiance—but survival? In this powerful TEDx talk, veteran educator David explores how children’s “misbehavior” often hides a single question: Am I safe with you? Drawing on neuroscience and decades of experience, he introduces the CALM method—Center, Affirm, Lead, Meet—as a roadmap for connection instead of control. His message is clear: when adults choose calm over chaos, we don’t just change behavior—we transform lives. If you’d like to contact Dr. David A. Palmer directly, please visit www.drdavidapalmer.comDr. David A. Palmer, Ed.D., is an educator with over 30 years of experience in classroom and school administration, as well as the father of six adopted neurodivergent children. Through his trauma-informed, nervous-system-centered approach, he empowers overwhelmed parents and teachers to shift from compliance to connection, transforming the way we respond to fostering emotional regulation and resilience in children and teens. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx
