: Call it a wholesome wellness art form or a mystical divine bond or an explicit language to express oneself, dance is considered as the medium that fosters the body-mind-soul connect since ancient times.
Dance enthusiasts who have been practising the art form for years define the endeavour as a constant learning process that needs fair amount of determination and dedication to take their passion to the next level.
On the eve of World Dance Day, celebrated on April 29, classical dancers from various institutions share what dance means to them and how the medium has enhanced their quality of life. “I consider dance as a prayer as it connects me with God. Like how a mobile phone aids in communicating with people, dance gives way to divine communion. I would like to strike a harmonious balance between my career as a dietician and a Kuchipudi dancer and train the younger generation in the beautiful art form,” says Krishna Sannidha, a Home Science graduate who honed her dancing skills for the last 10 years at Dr. Vempati Chinna Satyam’s Kuchipudi Kalakshetram.
Guru-sishya parampara
When S. Karishma Sree Sai, a Class X student of Bethany School, started picking up the nuances of classical dance at the age of seven, she had no clue that she would get hooked on to it forever. “Practising dance for three hours a day not only helped me keep my body and mind intact but also improve my concentration level to a great extent. Today, I can’t imagine my life without dance,” she explains.
Terming the guru-sishya parampara an inevitable part of the learning process, Mruthyunjaya Sarma, a 33-year-old Kuchipudi dancer from Kuchipudi village and a disciple of Vempati Ravi Shankar, says that an equally passionate guru can assist in realising an ardent dancer’s dreams.
Explaining why the majority of men feel reluctant to venture into classical dance, Anukula Aditya, son of Kuchipudi exponent and Guru Bala Kondala Rao said: “It is attributed to the belief that male dancers would develop feminine qualities over a period of time. However, the reality is something different. We only delve deep into the characters we portray on the stage but definitely not get influenced by them,” he assures.
Enthusiasts define the endeavour as a constant learning process
