Seeing Dance
On ‘bound’, 2022
Critical Dance
On ‘bound’, 2021
New York Times
On barkha’s kathak solo, 2014
Tillt Magazine
On ensemble + SOLO, 2017
To the Pointe
On Mukta, A Woman Liberated, 2019
“ The showcase provided a chance to revisit Barkha Patel‘s bound, seen last spring on A Showcase of New Jersey Choreographer Fellows by South Orange Performing Arts Center (SOPAC). I enjoyed it even more than before. Patel evokes magnificently the web of madness that 14th-century Kashmiri poetess and yogini Lal Ded found herself in after being falsely accused of adultery by her mother-in-law, and forced to leave her home and marriage. Alongside that are moment of near spiritual clarity. Patel’s fusion of contemporary movement and kathak is quite outstanding, while the use of film as a sort of inner voice makes for an effective extra layer. She plans to develop bound into a whole evening piece. It should be worth waiting for. ” - David Mead
https://www.seeingdance.com/aapi-dance-and-choreographers-showcase-220118/
“bound is a stunning, intelligent, inspired and inspiring piece of work; easily one of the finest dances I’ve seen in quite some time… It’s thrilling to watch the emotional roller coaster that Patel’s choreography and performance reveals… And although Patel’s face is highly expressive in an unexaggerated, restrained sort of way, there’s no melodramatic display of emotion. It’s all in Patel’s choreography, and on her face.” - Jerry Hochman
"The northern form Kathak depends more than any other on live interplay with music, and yet on Thursday, the brilliant virtuosity and bewitching charm of Barkha Patel helped us forget that tape must be second best... Eyes, lips, cheeks, eyebrows, jaw all played their part; others present joined me in wishing that half of New York’s ballet dancers would study with them...
In Ms. Patel’s case, the changing composure of her features made a wonderful contrast to the rapidity and skill of her turns and footwork. In her final number, she made a superlative impression, after a series of fast turns to the left, by making another series to the right, and thereafter alternating — and then suddenly she’d stop, and you’d hang on nothing but her face. The turn of her head over a shoulder, the opening of her eyes, the proud calm of her smile: ravishing. " - Alastair Macaulay
https://www.nytimes.com/2014/08/19/arts/dance/sattriya-kathak-and-bharatanatyam-dance-at-drive-east.html
Review from
Abida Parveen
Abida-ji is a renowned Sufi music artist of Pakistan
"Barkha danced solo in the first of two sections in Embrace of Passion, as she captivated her audience with her musicality, grace, and poise. She effortlessly breezed and stomped through the space, as if the stage were a tamed lion." - Kristen Hedberg
https://tilltmagazine.com/nycs-sans-limites-houses-indian-contemporary-classics
“This is not always the case with kathak – the storytelling dance/pantomime that is often beyond the comprehension of Western audiences. But as conceived and choreographed by Artistic Director Barkha Patel, “Mukta” is an overt and honest portrayal of women's struggles and triumphs.
The piece initially lures the eye with its beauty. A cast of seven, including Patel, are clad in colorful vests and white skirts that billow softly around their belled ankles. Dancing in formation and assembling intricate and synchronized hand-gestures, they conjure the spirits that comfort and press them to fight…
The choreography is full-bodied…
Patel, however, holds sway every time she steps on the stage. A captivating dancer, she is both sharp, but soft, strong, but feminine. She is an engaging stage presence.” - Wendy Liberatore, Times Union