The right moves

Watching a good dance performance is like magic. It enthralls you and you never want it to end. It mesmerises you and makes you sit up and take notice. Gone are the days when a dancer and his or her profession was looked down upon. Today, it is considered  a celebrated art form which has gained a much-respected position in society.

A dancer is a complete performer, using all faculties to create a perfect composition, right from acting to expression, ideation anddancing, of course. A living example of this is Pandit Birju Maharaj, a leading exponent of the Lucknow Kalka-Bindadin gharana of Kathak dance in India, whose performance goes much beyond dance. It flows like poetry and has won him fans from around the world.

“Dance is such a beautiful career. If you love dancing you will never feel that you are working while you dance. A dancer is always blissful and serene. Dance tends to have that effect on you,” says Asavari Pawar, a renowned Kathak dancer.

Professional dancing demands immense talent, skill and dedication. “A lot of people think dancing is only about having fun, but this is not correct,” says Akanksha Sharma, who learnt dance at the Shiamak Davar Institute of Performing Arts. “You need to be dedicated and have a flair for dancing. There is a lot of theory and technicality involved in dancing. A professional dancer needs years of experience to be perfect.”

Fernando Aguilera and Mohammed Rafi, who run the Delhi-based India Fernando Ballet Company, agree. “Dance is a very intense profession. It makes use of every faculty you possess. It also requires a lot of patience. You need to work with your body, push it harder, while keeping in mind its limitations. A person who does not enjoy dancing can never become a dancer as it requires unlimited passion and discipline,” they say.

With new forms of dance gaining popularity in India, the opportunity to become a known face in this field has increased manifold. Mehar Malik, who teaches at Delhi’s Banjara School of Dance, is a professional belly dancer. On her arrival in India a few years ago, she found there was little or no scope for her art. “I was often clubbed with bar dancers and small-time entertainers who dance at parties. No one took my dance or me seriously,” she recalls. “I have come a long way from there and am proud of the fact that I have contributed to changing that mindset.”

Pawar reiterates the importance of hard work. “If one wants to go professional, one needs to put in at least six to eight hours of practice daily,” she says. “There is no short-cut to success or fame. Dedication is the key but there’s nothing to match the satisfaction you get once you give a flawless performance.”

Author: Mallica Joshi

Date: 24th Dec., 2009

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