You may be a dance-lover but do you know who Menaka was? That is the aim behind Pune-based Kathak exponent Shama Bhate’s upcoming ‘Madame Menaka Choreography Movement.’ It will not only highlight the life and work of the yesteryear dancer-choreographer, but also the nuances of choreography.
“I know much should have been done to bring her life into focus. It is a little too late, but if I don’t do it, my journey in dance will be incomplete. That is why I am calling it a movement. This is just the beginning,” says Shama.
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Menaka, whose original name was Leila Sokhey, after her training in Kathak, established a residential school in Khandala, where she worked intensely on choreographing pieces in her own distinct way in sylvan surroundings. She broke new ground with her creative oeuvre that moved beyond the technique and structure of Kathak.
“Quite like Uday Shankar, she was much ahead of her time. Her modern moves and dance-drama format endeared her to the international audience when she toured Europe and South East Asia with the Menaka Indian Ballet. What she did then has been emulated by dancers over the years,” says Shama.
To lend a uniqueness to the fest that will celebrate the dancer with an unconventional approach, it will feature five choreographies based on proverbs and will be followed by a discussion, led by Ashish Mohan Khokar, on the process of visualisation. The panel will also have experts from different fields of art.
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Based on proverbs
Dancers Ameera Patankar, Ketaki Shah, Nikhil Ravi Parmar and Meghna Rao, Manasi Deshpande and Leena Katkar will choose proverbs from different languages and interpret them in their own way. “They are all students of Nad Roop, my dance school. For this fest they will work independently. It’s like a project,” says the guru, who was trained by veteran Rohini Bhate.
Shama is keen about creating a database of choreographies and teaching youngsters what it truly signifies. “It is a much-abused term, used even for dancing at sangeets during weddings,” she laughs and continues, “we are quick to pick up these western terminologies without understanding their essence and spirit, especially in the Indian context. A good knowledge of music, theatre, costume and stagecraft is as essential as proficiency in dance for choreography.”
During her training years, Shama realised that command over the technique was not enough.
“To create your own space, you need to take the learning forward. It means developing your aesthetic sensibilities and a clear creative vision. And can you have a better idol than Menaka,” she asks.
The festival will be held on May 25 and 26 at Jyotsna Bhole Sabhagriha, Pune.