Some pertinent questions on Indian classical dance

Posted by Ranjana (59.144.16.126) on January 03, 2006 at 08:49:36:

The following questions were thrown up by dancer Durga Bor on an online discussion group. I found them really pertinent and very thought-provoking. They pertain
to Odissi in particualr, and in a way, to all Indian classical dances in general. Hope you can throw up some more ideas on this........

Here are her questions....

1) Odissi's future, will it maintain it's identity as a solo dance, or have the groups wiped that out, and if so, are some of the beautiful solo items going to die by the
wayside? Are the pallevi's going to die out only to make room for the more tacky group mini-dramas? Who does Mokshya anymore? (I was happy to see
Gangadhar's troupe do Batu on their U.S. tour).

2) The future of Odissi music. Is it O.K. to electronify it? I don't think so, what about you.

3) Is the traditional guru-shishya parampara dead? If we can't buy our guru's expensive gifts, and give them huge fees, will they continue teaching us? Why shouldn't
they improve their quality of life if they can? Should the government give more support to the arts, more scholarships, etc. to the underpriviledged?

4) Why are certain "city girls" so famous when their sisters in smaller towns who are far superiour as dancers go unnoticed? Is it truly more of who you know than
how you dance?

Please express your opinion on these issues, which are of importance to every dancer in these turbulent times.