India, Feb. 9 -- After conceiving the Sufi Kathak dance form, when Kathak dancer Manjari Chaturvedi started performing 25 years ago, she was completely written off.

"I was accused of distorting a classical art by performing on Sufi and Punjabi folk music, wearing the black attire which is considered 'apshagun', performing kathak with qawwals and so much more. There were many questions that were asked to me such as there is no art called Sufi Kathak and what will younger artistes understand of Sufism? Having faith in the craft, I went ahead and started with my first stage (Sufi Kathak) show in hometown Lucknow in 1999, and a year later in Delhi. Today, I must have done over 500 shows including performing in 26 countries. This proves I am ...