An invitation to dance

“Any kind of dancing is better than no dancing at all," said American author and cartoonist, Lynda Barry. Dancer Madhuri Upadhya, Associate Director of the Nritarutya Dance Company, has always embodied this principle. Although she is a graduate of painting from Chitrakala Parishath, Madhuri and her sister have been dancing since the age of five. “Mayuri and I would do freelance dance projects and earn pocket money by performing professionally when we were in college,” says Madhuri. “After college, my sister put together a troupe of dancers for a performance at Chowdiah Memorial Hall, which I was a part of and that’s when I decided to take it up as a full time profession.” She was 21.

The sisters founded Nritarutya in 2000, as a registered trust which tours, performs, produces and educates, with the philosophy, Innovation in Tradition, staying rooted to the core cultural values of India. This month, Nritarutya’s Dance Intensive programme will offer six dance forms with seven teachers. New, unusual forms are the focus this year, including Mallakhamb, Kuchipudi, Aerial Silk, Belly Dance, Ranga Kunitha and Contemporary Dance.  

With dance having numerous forms, she admits there have been changes through the years. “Learning Indian contemporary and dance forms with all its complexities, its flavours and nuances became an absolute, neverending quest. I realised through the course, that art has the power to transcend barriers of religion, language, political, cultural differences. It is in this context that a global Indian choreographer is placed today. I moved on to become a contemporary dance choreographer who represents the rigorous and versatile cultural dance tradition of India interpreting it in modern language.”

The vision of Dance Intensive is to use ‘Dance’ to inspire, learn and create, to respect the tradition and innovate with the modern. "Intensive focuses on introducing novel styles of dance to bring a difference to the cultural thread of the country, starting with Bengaluru. Through varied traditional and modern topics of dance and different movement styles, the intensive equips the participants with versatility by challenging their mind and body,” says Madhuri.

Aerial dance, for instance, is a sub-genre of modern dance first recognised in the United States in the 1970s. Striking and graceful, it incorporates a harness attached from the ceiling, allowing a three-dimensional exploration by the dancer. And as Ria Bajaj, an aerialist from Mumbai who is one of the few artists certified by ‘The American Circus Association’ says, for her “dance is a release of emotions whether positive or negative. It has been my support system through the years, taught me meaning  and discipline.”  For Bertwin Ravi Dsouza, renowned Contempo rary Dancer, Teacher and Cho reographer based in Mumbai, he didn't chose dance. "It chose me, so it is a very special combination of passion and responsibility. For me dance is beyond fun, fitness, entertainment or self-expression, it's a way of life.”

For Eshan Hilal, India’s first male belly dancer, known for shattering stereotypes and busting myths, dance is an instrument for driving change in society. “Dance is a religion without being restricted to any rules and regulations and the discipline you get to learn through dance is the perfect way to live this life in the most beautiful way,” he avers.  The Intensive will also see a session on Mallakhamb by Rajesh Rao, the only Indian to be a part of Cirque du Soleil’s “Bazzar”.

“Mallakhamb for me is a path which helps me to connect with my inner self. It teaches me discipline and to honour my body. Years of training and working harder each year brings a sense of responsibility in me. It reminds me what I am here for.” Prateeksha Kashi, the Kuchi pudi exponent in this progra mme will seek to spread the message that just as “dance has been a strong influencer right from my childhood and has taught me humility and positivity, helped me realise the power of faith, hope and emotions,” so too, will it influence all who take part in this seven day spectacle.

What: Dance N More 7 day Dance Intensive covering 6 dance forms with 7 world class masters
When: May 25 to May 31
Where: Nritarutya, 475, 1st Floor, 39th C cross, Jayanagar 5th Block, Bangalore; Aerial and Mallakhamb: 'Vyoma Art Space'-126/A, 8th Main Road, 3rd Phase, J.P. Nagar, B’lore.