Much as the gloom-seekers may shrink to admit it, it is not a dull day for the classical arts as far as the young are concerned. The facebook generation is not one homogeneous mass that swears by jeans and Hinglish. There are enough of them sweating it out with their chowk and aramandi, their tatkar and chakkars, and taking time to think about what Indian culture is all about. Not all of them take themselves too seriously though. They play it cool, on or off the stage and have neither a grouse nor a fear when it comes to Bollywood, MTV or any other popular art. Here, there young practitioners of Indian classical dance say something the crusading professionals sometimes forget to say: Life is good and they are happy! What better way to recommend the art they practise?
MADHYAMA SEGAL
Like any other city teenager, Madhyama Segal seems easygoing and forthright. Granddaughter of eminent Odissi exponent Kiran Segal and great-granddaughter of thespian Zohra Segal, she is however not planning to take up dance as a profession. “I was put into dance classes by my grandmother. She introduced me to dance as a child.” says Madhyama, whose affectionate diminutive is Maddy. “Any extra curricular activity if taken up seriously needs hard work and commitment, so does dance,” says the standard 12 student who recently participated with a number of other young dancers in a performance put up by her guru in New Delhi.
She puts in equal amounts of time and effort into her dance and studies as of now, but there is no feeling of sacrifice since she enjoys it. There is a tendency today to weigh one's effort with the returns. Teachers in the classical disciplines often feel their wards don't get the kind of exposure, encouragement and incentives that come to kids who take the reality show route, or those who pursue popular arts, like, say, Pop music, or Salsa, or light music. Madhyama says, “I think that is true, but to get noticed and appreciated you have to make the effort to participate as well! There is a big western influence on today's youth but if one is interested in any kind of Indian art form then with the right guidance and commitment one can flourish in that form.”
She sums up, “I enjoy dancing and it's a part of life and I would want it to stay that way.”
JYOTI MANRAL
Jyoti Manral, who danced a Kathak duet with Seema Malhotra at the Lalitarpan festival organised by Shovana Narayan, is a disciple of Guru Geetanjali Lal of Kathak Kendra. While her parents put her into dance classes initially, says Jyoti, it was her decision to continue with it professionally. “I did my 13 years of study under the guidance of one guru, Smt. Geetanjali Lal ji,” says Jyoti, “and I am still learning a lot from her as learning is a never-ending process.”
Jyoti, a Delhi University graduate in Industrial Relations and Personnel Management, has also done a web designing course. She is currently a dance teacher and choreographer at a reputed public school and also a professional dancer in Shovana Narayan's repertory, Asavari.
Learning classical dance is tough, agrees Jyoti. “It is a kind of sadhana for which one needs to do lots of hard work and sacrifices too.” However, her being “organised, punctual and particular about my things” helps her. “I hardly remember if I ever missed any hit movies. Weekends I go for movies and dinner with my family and friends. I usually go for short trips of two-three days with my friends.”
Jyoti recalls that as a child her friends would be playing while she went with her father to dance classes. “This was my big pain at that time, but because of that sacrifice I'm here today and very happy too.”
While talent, hard work and loyalty along with luck are essential to make it, Jyoti notes, “I am performing all over the world so I have no right to say that I don't get a chance to perform while others do.” Parents' support is vital, but she is also grateful to have a guru who gives her students lots of opportunities.
Unlike some young practitioners of art who are happy to pursue it one day at a time, Jyoti admits to her aim of setting up her own academy soon. With a number of celebrated gurus as role models, she says, “I want to be as popular as any renowned Kathak guru. I always wish to maintain a balance between my personal and professional life. I would love to open my own dance academy after gaining more experience in the next three-four years.”
SEEMA MALHOTRA
For Seema Malhotra, also a student of Guru Geetanjali Lal, dance began because her parents wanted her to be a classical dancer. “It was a real motivating factor for me to be able to pursue dance as my profession,” she says. Seema is employed as a dance teacher in a Noida public school and a repertory member of Shovana Narayan's Asavari.
“I think I am quite good in managing my schedule as I know my priorities very well,” says Seema. “Kathak, my work is always my first choice as I believe work comes first.” As to whether youngsters who pursue more popular arts have an easier time, she says, “I am equally getting opportunities as any other Salsa, Jazz, western dancer, so I am happy that I have chosen the right field.”
Seema's goal as of now relates to the intangibles of art. “I want to make even a layman aware of our classical dances because this is our rich heritage and it is our duty to save it for the next generation.”
