Posted by Ash Mukherjee on May 01, 2007 at 09:24:34:

 In Reply to: Re: Leela Sampson Interview posted by Megha on April 28, 2007 at 20:52:12:

 I like and really respect what Divya says...Like spirituality, let us follow our own path.
I have always felt deep down and am now at that exciting threshold as a young artist of truly finding out that dancing is a tool, like any language to serve mankind and hence God. The language, its craft, delivery, precision needs to be crystal clear so the true essence of what our soul feels is transferred, hopefully to transform and evolve our audience. This is where I feel an institution like Kalakshetra can be so incredibly handy. Those lucky guys get to learn and hone their craft consistently on a day to day basis from masters of their craft.
Having said that its up to the disciple how far he/she decides to go.
I feel some( and 'SOME'being the operative word as opposed to 'ALL'!) can turn out to be dancers with excellent craft but with no original voice of their own, and sometimes even a reluctance to go the extra back breaking but truly rewarding mile of finding their own true voice as an artist.
The general unspoken and slightly absurd and arrogant idea I dare say, seems to be, " I am from Kalakshetra/Or other worthy dance establishment. Its the premiere Bharata Natyam Dance school of India, what I have learnt there is perfect...nothing can be improved upon." I believe that all evolution dies here. I mean its wonderful to feel so positively about one self but to not give process a chance over product, is to me absurd. Without evolution we would all still be chimpanzees! It is a fact sometimes one has to regress to progress but to not do that and live in such self congratulatory complacent bliss of churning out one perfect adavu after another without a thought given to the truth behind the music/concept and think that it is laudable is puerile and delusional. Its like having a wonderful speaking voice but standing up and speaking gibberish. Pretty gibberish, but gibberish nonetheless.
I had the honour and joy of being taught by the Dhananjayans and Ms. Leela Samson at two different workshops in the UK, and noticing my background in Bharata Natyam, and Classical Ballet both of them, to my pleasant surprise, urged me to go forth and play with both forms, create new ideas, mix and match, make mistakes but find my own original voice. To quote Anna directly.."You want to do 3 spins in that bhramari...if it fits the music and if you can tell me why your character is doing this, then go for it!" I did and he loved it and it was such a blessing to dance for him. He was the most advanced and had the most energy out of anybody in that class of teenagers. I have always got a wonderful buzz from creating but if ever I have been scared of what the purists and academics might say, what the Dhananjayans and Ms. Samson said put me right back on the track. Which was essentially...Beware of purists and academicians. The only thing that is pure is Energy. God creates a rose and a scientist can come and dissect and analyse it to bits in a few seconds. But can he create something so pure, simple and perfect like that flower. Our job as artists is to find that inner Creator in all of us, however long, arduous and challenging that process maybe, if you apply all your hard earned tools with respect and interpretation...go for it and create!
To quote the extremely advanced of her and our time, Ms. Mrinalini Sarabhai, " Let dance be a reassertion of the harmony of man with God and an act of faith in his invincible creative spirit."

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: Several of my teachers are from Kalakshetra. they were students there and some still teach there. I owe a lot to them. Not only did they teach me dance, they taught me discipline that helps me in my life.
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: Further, they came from very modest backgrounds but still were definitely not pursuing art for money and I never felt that they were greedy..
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: There is one point i wish to make... All dancers, regardless of style, whether they change a repetoire or not - make people happy through their art. So I think we should all respect that.
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: AFter that the proof of the pudding is in the eating... if the original masterpieces were popular, if that genre of music is popuplar, people who have that high refined taste, will be drawn to it...
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: I know several of my friends and family find the current Kalakshetra work itself too elite and uncomprehensible.... All dancers have a place on the map. Like in Spirituality, let us all find out own path.
 
 

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