Exploring movements in dance
MALEEHA RAGHAVIAH
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Children at the workshop were filled with spontaneity and enthusiasm to learn and impart ideas.
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Spreading cheer: A fun-filled experience.
KOZHIKODE
Nothing like being given the option to demonstrate life movements without fixed norms, whether in dance, folk or martial art forms. The spontaneity can be surprising and the result worth the effort say the young duo behind the initiative.
Members of the Sunday Children’s Theatre in Kozhikode who participated in a workshop ‘Exploring Movements’ had a novel experience altogether.
The programme was conducted recently by teenagers Shanti and Geethi. The two sisters are former students of the Kanavu Tribal School in Wayanad, and completed their basic education from there.
“We work on the idea of freedom of movement in dance whether kathak, mohiniyattom, folk dances or kalari. The freedom of movements and the initiative to innovate resulting in new forms evolving are the basics on which the workshop is held. The end results can be amazing,” says Shanti who is in the process of collecting details on tribal folk tunes.
The children at the workshop were divided into groups and given the freedom to demonstrate movements without prescribing any strict format. It could be demonstrating the ambience in a forest, the blowing of the wind, or just water movements. The enthusiasm and spontaneity with which the participants demonstrate is amazing, says Shanti.
Shanti and Geethi are most attracted to the space offered, if allowed to operate without shackles. The participants of the workshop are given a similar space to operate, innovate and evolve, they say.
Through what was evolved, an item was choreographed at the end of the day.
When in Kanavu the two had the opportunity to interact with similar alternative schools as part of an exchange programme. They were exchange students in the Bangalore-based Poorna alternative school for six months as part of a basic language development programme.
College students
As many as 25 final year degree students of the Providence Women’s College too participated in the workshop held on the first day.
Shanthi has completed a course in kalari-based contemporary music in London. During the stay there, she along with Geethi had staged a 30-minute programme ‘Introducing India’, that comprised dance, kalari and music.
They were involved in the production of ‘Gudda’ the film that earned jury reference at the Kerala Film Festival and directed by Kanavu School. While Shanthi was the protagonist in the film, Geethi worked as assistant director.
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