India, Oct. 8 -- She was 26, when she received the news of her father's death in a train accident. "I had to identify the body, get the post-mortem done, and perform the last rites. Three days later, I took to stage to perform at a festival in Mathura. My heart was crying, but I was dancing," recounts Kathak exponent Shovana Narayan, vividly describing how her devotion to dance drives her spirit to keep going. With the same determination, she has chosen the theme of this year's LalitArpan Festival as Antah-Shakti: Courage and Hope.

This theme is evident in how the 24th edition of this fest has been curated; with a line-up of artistes who perform pirouettes on stage with poise and exhibit immense resilience off it. "Dance gives you the po...