n stage, a dancer can be any character irrespective of his or her gender , says upcoming Odissi dancer Gokulsree Dass, who was in Puducherry to perform at Alliance Francaise on Friday.
“While portraying a character, for instance of Radha or Krishna, you have to be the character. It is not that a male dancer cannot perform a female role or vice-versa. Earlier, it was believed that women were dancers, while men could only be gurus. But you can only become a good guru when you learn and practise the art form,” says Dass.
He adds that a male dancer used to be considered effeminate, but slowly the idea of a solo male classical dancer is gaining acceptance now.
Recognised as a graded artist by Prasar Bharati, Doordarshan Kendra Bhubaneswar in 2015 and a recipient of the Senior National Scholarship of the Union Ministry of Culture in 2014 and several other awards, Dass has trained under Guru Durga Charan Ranbir of the late Guru Deba Prasad Das’ style of Odissi. He has also learnt under Odissi exponent Sujata Mishra in Bhubaneswar.
Dass became familiar with dance in his early childhood by watching dancers like Guru Durga Charan Ranbir and Sangeeta Dash at his mother’s dance school in Bhubaneswar where he grew up. While his family did not allow him to pursue dance initially whereby he studied engineering at Bengaluru, he returned to his passion full time after his course. Dass has also learnt the tabla and painting, and been trained in classical music.
Dass says festivals and institutes inviting artistes to perform have provided more opportunities for classical artistes. Dass recently performed at the ‘Dance DISCourse: Purush II’, which showcases male solo dancing, organised by Alliance Francaise of Bengaluru in association with Attendance History Society.
“Each dancer must seek a positive vibration in everything he or she sees. There is much to learn from each others’ performances as well,” says Dass.
Puducherry connection
His connection with Puducherry is longstanding as he learnt Odissi under dancer Sangeeta Dash here while he was a student of engineering. He also did his studied at the Ashram school in Bhubaneswar.
Some of the pieces he performed at Alliance Francaise here included the ‘Navarasa’ on the nine emotions, the ‘Mangalacharan’ which has shlokas by Ravana and the ‘Gita Govinda’ offering Radha’s perspective, all of which have been choreographed by the late Guru Deba Prasad Das.
Festivals and institutes inviting artistes to perform have provided more opportunities for classical artistes
Some of the pieces he performed at Alliance Francaise here included the ‘Navarasa’ on the nine emotions, the ‘Mangalacharan’ which has shlokas by Ravana and the ‘Gita Govinda’ offering Radha’s perspective