Spotlight
Benefits of Dance

This is one of the two prize-winning
articles reproduced from the souvenir published during the Natya Kala
Conference convened by Shanta Dhananjayan in December 2010 and 2011.
A recent article in The Hindu about teaching Bharatanatyam for
its therapeutic benefits to women and housewives acknowledges the importance of
making dance accessible to all genres of participants. Even while dance
continues to enjoy a professional standard, with the necessary training being
imparted that grooms dancers for a performing career, such an acknowledgement
coming from one of the stalwart guru-s of Chennai, who is known for the
professional dancers he has brought forth, underscores the fact that it is
equally important to make the same professional standards of training available
to those who may not be aiming at or reaching out for the stage. It exposes the
relevance that is being given to its practice in a modern world, where we are
looking beyond categorisations and segregations. It is an important step in the
right direction. This aspect however also poses challenges to teachers, both in
the methods of teaching and the approach to dance in general.
Those teaching abroad have long faced these challenges. These experiences however
I think enable refining one’s sensibility towards the relevance and essence of
movement and expression as such. In countries where dance or the particular
styles of dance like Bharatanatyam are not part of the mainstream cultural
practice, one does not always have young aspirants, where parents are keen to
send them to classes. Often adults of all ages enroll themselves. Also class
frequencies are difficult to maintain. As a teacher one thus faces situations,
where traditional methods of teaching don’t work in all the cases. One has to
set priorities and negotiate possibilities, wondering if and how such
students should or need to be put through the rigours of learning. Nevertheless
the interest of these students becomes a driving and motivating force to teach
them. Over the years one realises that it is possible to enhance their
abilities, give them the benefits of movement and expression and help them
acquire the knowledge in the art. But of course it also means that performing
on stage might not be the product. The sense of achievement has to be
negotiated from different or rather differentiated perspectives.
Thus we face the challenge of looking at the teaching methodologies and of the
qualifications of a teacher.
By Rajyashree Ramesh
Posted by Sruti Magazine May 17, 2012