- The Dancing Dentist Signs His Book on BHARATANATYAM at Bahrison’s, Chandigarh
- Dr. Varun Khanna, renowned as The Dancing Dentist, Launches His Book on BHARATANATYAM
Demokratic Front, Chandigarh – 04 March :
Dr. Varun Khanna, renowned as The Dancing Dentist, recently made a special appearance at Bahrison’s Book Sellers in Sector 8C, Chandigarh, for an exclusive Meet & Greet and book signing event. Dr. Khanna, a senior disciple of Padmabhushan Dr. Saroja Vaidyanathan and Sangeet Natak Akademi awardee Mrs. Rama Vaidyanathan, proudly presented his self-penned book, Bharatanatyam, published by Parragon Publications.
The event, held on Tuesday afternoon, saw art lovers and readers gathering to meet the author and learn about the unique journey that led to the creation of this book. Dr. Khanna, who has been actively promoting Bharatanatyam and classical Indian arts across the country, shared insights into the inspiration behind the book. He described how, in mid-2022, he was approached by Routes2Roots, a Delhi-NCR-based NGO, to write a book on Bharatanatyam. The NGO’s vision to raise awareness about classical arts in schools and institutions resonated deeply with Dr. Khanna, and he embraced the challenge to document his journey in Bharatanatyam.
“I’ve always sought to propagate classical arts through various mediums like photography, teaching, performance reviews, and social media. Writing this book was a natural progression for me. It offers readers, especially young students and art enthusiasts, an easy-to-understand narrative on the history, evolution, and prospects of Bharatanatyam,” shared Dr. Khanna.
The book was officially launched on February 7, 2025, at the India Habitat Centre, New Delhi, with special guests, Grammy Award winner Pandit Rakesh Chaurasia and Padmashri Dr. Kiran Sehgal, gracing the occasion. Dr. Khanna’s late teacher, Padmabhushan Guru Dr. Saroja Vaidyanathan, wrote a heartfelt foreword for the book, and Padmashri Dr. Narthaki Nataraj also contributed her thoughts on what readers can expect.
Dr. Khanna highlighted that the book is designed to be an engaging and accessible read, with vibrant photographs and personal anecdotes that help demystify the dance form for both beginners and seasoned enthusiasts.
“I am deeply grateful to my family, teachers, and all the artists wbho have been a part of my dance journey and continue to inspire me,” Dr. Khanna concluded.
