K K Hebbar was fond of music and dance. He took lessons in Kathak (Indian classical dance) from Sunder Maharaj for two years. He even gave a performance at the old Opera House in Mumbai. This training helped him immensely to introduce rhythmic quality in his line drawings.

During our stay in Mahabaleshwar we regularly watched folk dances and stage performances. These were held in open grounds where the villagers gathered in the evenings to be entertained and forget their cares. The most popular one was 'Lavani' which was performed to the beat of Dholki, a percussion instrument. The women wore nauvari (nine yard sarees). Another folk dance was 'Dindi' where the dancers danced to the drum beats of 'Dindi' on Ekadeshi day, in the month of Kartik.

My father would get engrossed in their music and dance. He sketched furiously and later experimented with forms, lyrical lines and colours. His inspiration continued to come from humble workers engaged in earning their livelihood.

- Text by Rekha Rao