With a passion for dance that eggs him on to look for something new all the time, Prithviraj applied for a scholarship meant for teachers and dancers and dashed off to Austria to be on time for the classes and workshop organised by the Austrian government as part of the Vienna International Dance festival ‘ImPulsTanz’, one of the largest festivals of contemporary dance worldwide.
City-based dancer Prithviraj who conducts dance classes in his studio Stepz, likes to keep himself updated on dance and introduce new dance forms. Just back from the trip, a visibly elated Prithviraj says, “This was a special occasion, as it the 30 year of the fest. The workshop is not treated as a class or a training session. Instead it is a fest of dance and dance forms. That’s what took me to the fest of dance.” Prithviraj refers to this fest as every dancer’s dream because it brings the best dancers from across the world to a common platform.
Prithviraj says, “Once I reached there, I realised the fest was not just about learning and improving steps. It dealt with everything from costumes, shoes, facial expressions etc. Each sitting had different instructors who demonstrated and spoke about dance steps and forms. It was attending a class of a different kind,” he recalls.
At the fest, dance shows by participating students were presented every evening. Speaking about the troupes, he says, that the famous London-based Akram Khan Company was also a part of the fest and their “classes were very engaging.”
Among the things Prithviraj learnt and would teach his students here, are the ‘liquid technique’ ‘ballet access’ etc. “I also did a ballet with a few other students from other countries,” says Prithviraj. He also met Rapsody James who is a popular name in hip hop.
Prithviraj will be incorporating all that he learnt in his new classes which begins from this week at his studios in Banjara Hills and Trimulgherry.