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Dance in a different idiom

Jayachandran Palazhy interprets classical art forms from a contemporary, individualistic perspective

Jayachandran Palazhy is unmistakably one of the best-known names in the field of contemporary dance in India today. Trained in Indian and foreign dance forms, both traditional and classical, Jayachandran is currently the choreographer and artistic director of the Bangalore-based Attakkalari Centre for Movement Arts, an institution that was established in 1992 and is supported by the Sir Ratan Tata Trust, India Foundation for the Arts, Hivos of Netherlands and Department of Culture, Government of India, among others.

Palazhi has been trying to evolve a contemporary Indian dance idiom, one that is informed and influenced by Indian traditions but not limited by it. He is also the artistic director of the London-based Imlata Dance Company.

The artist was in Kerala to conduct an audition for aspiring artists. Excerpts of an interview with The Hindu Metro Plus:

You entered the contemporary dance scene at a time when it was not quite popular. How tough was it to make a mark of your own?

Well, rather than tough, I would say, it was challenging as there was a lack of support and awareness among both the people and the decision makers in those days. Of course there are some people like Chandralekha who did it earlier. There was no infrastructure and other kind of support mechanism for contemporary dance at that point of time in India. Since then things have radically changed.

Looking back, do you feel that the contemporary dance scene in India has come of age?

Of course, there are some people who have come a long way. And definitely Attakkalari and its work have left an indelible mark in the contemporary dance scene in the country. We have managed to build a repertory company and an infrastructure of our own.

Today we have two studios and are in the process of launching a three-year diploma programme in movement arts and mixed media for the first time in India. We have been organising an international contemporary dance festival called Attakkalari Biennial for the past several years and we also run an international choreography laboratory.

Contemporary dance is a blend of dance forms. Is there any particular form that has a greater influence on contemporary dance?

Contemporary dance is not a particular dance form, it's rather an attitude towards creating new work. It's more like a contemporary visual art and contemporary painting and is a particular genre of work where we put creativity and originality at the centre of things. When people come to learn contemporary dance we don't teach them a dance but just teach them how to dance. As such there are different styles and moods of expression in contemporary dance.

Is there a marked difference between Indian dancers and those in the West?

The experience that I had from learning and working across the world is that the Indian tradition is perhaps the best in the world.

How effectively could Attakkalari create an awareness among the mainstream audience in the country?

Our programmes, though not many, were greeted with warmth in India. Even though some among the audience lack the vocabulary to express their feelings they are completely in sync with what we do.

SUNIL NALIYATH

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