Why dance finds few takers
S. JANAKI
|
Reasons may be several but the fact is classical dance is just not attracting crowds.
|
It was an evening of music and dance. As soon as the curtains came down on the Carnatic vocal concert, the audience trooped out of the hall. Very few stayed on to watch the Bharatanatyam recital that was to follow; and those who did, left after watching just an item or two. The hall that was jam-packed just an hour ago, was now half empty. With the entry of some diehard dance fans there was at least a semblance of an audience! This is not an isolated incident, but a common occurrence in Chennai.
What is it that keeps music lovers away from classical dance? Why are the majority of music rasikas not able to appreciate dance? Could it be that the habit of listening to music kutcheris is deeply ingrained, handed down from generation to generation over the past hundred years, whereas attending public performances of Bharatanatyam is of relatively recent origin starting in the 1930s?
``I find it easier to soak in the music and relax in a music concert," says a rasika. Dance, however, demands much more of the viewer's attention and focus. ``There's so much going on at the same time, too many distractions!" There is dance, music, movement, colour and lights on stage — it is probably overwhelming. ``The glamour and superficiality keep me away, am unable to empathise with the dancer," says another. ``The garish aesthetics, showmanship and physicality of some dancers put me off, I don't feel elevated," is the complaint of a genteel old lady who, in the past, was moved to tears when she watched Balasaraswati dance ``Krishna nee begane" and as she listened to K.V. Narayanaswamy sing ``Varugalaamo." The finer nuances of abhinaya which touch one's heart in a chamber concert are nowadays lost in the length and depth of the large modern proscenium. ``At times I feel uncomfortable watching Bharatanatyam, there is too much sringara on stage. Only a few good dancers are able to transcend the physical and sensuous and move to a higher plane," says a gentleman. He adds, ``My young daughter is drawn to dance by the jewellery, make-up and costume."
Male preserve
In the days of sadir, appreciating the dance and the dancer was mainly a male preserve. Today more women have taken to dance. Girls flock to learn Bharatanatyam, and most of the practitioners belong to the fair sex. Dance is a reflection of changing aesthetics and attitudes. It is a discipline and watching a dance performance is in itself a learning experience - what to do and what not to do!
Die-hard music fans say that the quality of dance music is another deterrent which keeps them away.
Some find the dance ``boring" because it all seems the same to them! They feel that the same themes are repeated, they want more explanations to help them understand the language of dance. It is obvious that these are the people who complain without attending dance programmes. Today there is hardly a Bharatanatyam performance without announcements, and the dancers are constantly pushing the frontiers.
What could motivate the section of music lovers which is probably too lazy, indifferent, snooty or simply too busy to try and educate itself on the aesthetic nuances of Bharatanatyam?
Dance, like music, is the expression of the human spirit. In music there is immense scope for manodharma. In dance too, there is good scope for creativity in choreography and impromptu sancharis. It offers more insight into the meaning and mood of songs. Dance is ``visual music." The dancer sculpts patterns in space, interprets tales and concepts transcending Time. The mudras or hand gestures are only stylised elegant expressions drawn from life.
Dance combines all the three aspects of sangeetam — geetam, vadyam, nrityam. It derives inspiration from our epics, mythology and rich literary tradition. Dance is a yoga, and appreciating dance is an art. As you watch a performance, all the aspects of dance, from the physical to the sublime, fall into place at various levels. Enjoy! Just let your heart dance along.
Printer friendly
page
Send this article to Friends by
E-Mail
Music & Dance
