New Delhi, Aug 26 - What happens when a kathak maestro meets Latino dancers? A medley of footwork, frenetic hip movement, spins and hand gestures, making for loads of 'happiness' on stage.

Leading kathak exponent Uma Sharma teamed up with two Brazilian Latino dancers -- Fernanda Dias and Serginho -- in the capital for a kathak-salsa performance as part of the pre-World Dance Festival.

'India and Brazil have two very different cultures, but the meeting point is happiness,' Serginho told IANS.

As Sharma joined the high-voltage salsa and forro dancers -- the latter a northeast Brazilian dance form -- on stage to match steps and movements, she said: 'Hum kisi se kum nahin (we are no less than anyone). I will improvise my kathak to blend with salsa on stage.'

'The footwork, spins and energy are common between kathak and salsa and other Latino dances. However, Latino dances have more hip movements and gyrations of the belly and waist unlike kathak -- which relies on facial expression or 'natya' and hand movements. The body keeps still,' Sharma told IANS at the Brazilian embassy, which was converted into a makeshift dance hall Tuesday for the fusion performance.

'Our mastery over our facial expressions and our footwork is intricate. But since kathak is of Mughal origin, hip movements are frowned upon. But we have the same rhythm.

'In fact, the flamenco dance of Spain is very similar to kathak -- I have collaborated with several flamenco dancers.