Everybody knows the vital role hormones play in regulating our body system. Can their interactions, significance, subtle hormonal changes, interplay and impact on organs, be conveyed in the form of a ballet dance?
An attempt to do just that is being made by Head, Endocrinology, Osmania General Hospital (OGH), Dr. Jayanthi Ramesh, who has conceptualised, penned and produced a Kuchipudi dance ballet to be presented on Sunday, April 6, World Health Day. In the ballet, the endocrinologist, along with 14 others, will ‘poetically’ describe and present in the form of song and dance about each hormone and their impact on organs.
“The rhythm, balance and action of hormones in our body are fully synchronised. I am attempting to project this synchronicity in the physical form of a ballet dance. Each role of hormones will be described by the dancers and its impact on organs. The ballet will be accompanied with audio-visual presentations on hormones in the back ground,” he describes.
Being a doctor and an accomplished Kuchipudi dancer has given Dr. Ramesh a unique perspective. “I feel only a doctor could attempt such an experiment. I am hoping that this ballet would be a medium to spread awareness on hormones and their role in modern lifestyle diseases like diabetes or thyroid,” he points out.
The artistic streak surely runs in the family for Dr. Ramesh, whose better half, Dr. Srivalli Jayanthi, is a vocalist and daughter is an upcoming Kuchipudi dancer and also a part of the ballet dance. “This is our attempt to blend medicine and art to spread awareness on the importance of ailments. We have this feeling that young Indians would be able to relate to the subject if we speak in their language,” says Dr. Srivalli, who will also anchor the ballet.
The doctor duo managed to rope-in well known artist Dr. Bhagavathulu Sethuram to choreograph. “When I first gave him my script, he acknowledged that it was not going to be easy. And yet, he accepted this as a challenge. To contextualise and make audience relate to the topic, we have included extracts from the Vedas on earth, water, air, fire and their relationship with human beings,” the husband and wife duo explained.
In a recent international medical workshop, Dr. Ramesh and Dr. Srivalli had presented the ballet. “The response was overwhelming and emboldened us to take this to the next level,” they said. The dance ballet performance is from 6 p.m. on Sunday, April 6 at Satya Sai Nigamagamam. For details: 040-6610-7849.
