On a mission to lend a new dimension to classical dance

Bharatanatyam and Odissi dancer Vyshnavie Sainath is busy training her disciples in ‘Kalari-Gatka’, a fusion art form which she experimented combining ‘Kalaripayattu’ (martial art form that originated in Kerala) and Gatka (traditional Punjabi martial arts).

After completing a course in the Attakkalari Centre for Movement Arts in Bengaluru, the classical dancer also specialises in the ‘Simhanandini’ thought of bringing the two martial art forms of different States together and training an army of women in it as she considers it one of the essential self-defence techniques.

Currently based in Hyderabad, her years of association with diverse professionals at her dance school Vyshnavie Natya Centre helped the trainer to break away from traditional concepts and come up with fusion formats. “That’s how ‘Kalari-Gatka’ came into existence. Though one has to wield a sword and a shield to perform this form of dance, the swift movements and reflex action required for the dance will eventually train a person to stay more alert. At times, your

dupatta or a bangle or stem of ear studs turn out to be your weapons. All you have to do is be attentive when any dangerous situation arises and try to escape from the spot, putting these accessories to good use,” the dancer told

The Hindu when she came to present the warrior dance form along with ‘Siva Tandavam’ with her 14-member troupe at the Visakha Utsav.

From CEOs of the corporate world to gynaecologists and a 60-year-old homemaker, Vyshnavie’s dance school trains 50 students in Bharatanatyam, Odissi, Kalaripayattu and ‘Simhanandini’ along with a series of contemporary art forms. “Besides acting as a stress-buster, professionals who get trained in dance feel that it helps them get rid of their negative emotions, stay focused and be more productive. They say that they are able to manage time and multi-task much better,” says Vyshnavie who learnt Bharatanatyam from her mother Rajeswari Sainath. Her quest to take dance beyond traditional style made her pursue Ph.D in connecting mathematics with dance. “You need to make classical dance more appealing and desirable as there are many who still consider it a dull option,” she sums up.