Srishti School of Classical Dance completes 15 years

Shruthi Shoby is a Doordashan graded artiste from Thiruvananthapuram. She is the founder & managing director of the Srishti School of Classical Dance, Anna Nagar. She is a trained Mohiniyattam dancer in the authentic Kerala Kalamandalam style who has been under the direct tutelage of veteran dancer Kalamandalam Kavitha Krishnakumar.

Q. How did your journey begin as a performing artiste?
I started learning Bharatnatyam at the age of 5 under Sheela Sahadevan and Sahadevan.  It was legendary danseuse Chitra Visweswaran who seeded the interest in me to learn Mohiniyattam, when I performed a small piece in her production.  Although I am a Malayalee, I was born and raised in Chennai and after just two years of training I won the first place in the Calicut University in Mohiniattam for two consecutive years (2000 and 2001). That gave me the confidence to specialise in Mohiniattam and to take it up as my main dance form. It is general tradition in Kerala to learn all three dance forms, however I personally believe in authenticity. It was after marriage, I returned to Chennai. I had a chance to meet and learn the traditional Vempatti style of Kuchipudi from Kalaimani Sailaja, who moulded with qualities to become professional danseuse in the industry. Currently, I’m also doing a research on Mohiniattam in Bharath University, Chennai.

Q. What is your favourite dance form?
I worship dance and I personally consider it to be ‘Shivaprasad’ and a divine quality that not everybody can be blessed with. My parents Usha Sivadas and P.V. Sivadas were passionate music lovers, ironically I was named Sruthi by my uncle C.C Mohan. They wanted my sibling and me to pursue music, but I was more fond of dance and they encouraged me to pursue the art form. That being said, I have learnt all three styles of classical dance (Bharathnatyam, Mohiniattam and Kuchipudi) and practiced and trained students in the former two dance styles as well. No doubt each style has got its own beauty but I would have to say that my heart lies in Mohiniattam due to my specialisation in the same.

Q. What were the major challenges you faced when you started the dance school?
I started the school in the year 2004 with just 6-7 students and frankly, it has been my hard work that has brought me to where I am today. Here in Chennai, the crowd focuses only on a single form of dance and more opportunities are provided only to Bharathnatyam dancers and being a Mohiniattam dancer, it was very difficult to establish myself. I have faced many challenges throughout my journey of building the institute but with the guidance and immense support of my understanding husband, Shoby (who is a businessman) and my wonderful ever-adjusting kids Saarang and Saatviki I have been able follow my passion and practice the art. I feel I’m truly blessed by God’s grace, Shrishti School of dance has more than over 100 students and 20 who have completed their Arangetram.

Q. How are you celebrating the success of running your dance school for 15 years ?
Our magazine is focused on the occasion of our dance school stepping into its 15th year. On this occasion, celebrity singer, P. Unni Krishnan will be presiding over the function and releasing our magazine Sristion September 14. I feel very overwhelmed that my students are the only writers for the magazine and we haven’t required the help of freelance writers or authors to help us achieve the same. I found this to be a form of encouragement for my students who will be able to visualise their experience and what they have learnt to put it across in writing.  

 Q. Has any negativity crossed your pathway to success?
When you are in a gathering surrounded by contemporary dancers and competitors, some amount of negativity is inevitable. But I will never let anything affect me to an extent were it would affect my work or progress. I learn to ignore and move on from it.

Q. Can you mention your best work till date?
Out of the productions till date, Navarasa Panjali and Thadaga Enne Dravida Rajakumari are my favourites, especially the latter (in 1999) when it was the first poem to be portrayed in Mohiniyattam dance form. Navarasa Panjali portrays empowerment of women and depicts the Nava rasas of the world known epic character, Dhroupathi, wife of the Pancha Pandavas in Mahabharata.

Dhroupathi's character, chastity and enigmatic personality were best portrayed through the performance and it was a phenomenal hit that received an ovation in the 'Bhavan's Natya Utsav', at Tag auditorium . It also won accolades from veteran dancer couple, the Dhananjayans. Adding to that, my work on Urmila, Lakshmana’s wife from the epic Ramayana also tops the list of my favourites.

Q. How many awards have you received?
I have conducted more than 100 shows and been the recipient of the titles such as  ‘Nadanajyothi’, ‘Natya Kala Ranjini’ and ‘Natya Kala Choodamani’ which have been great honours. And whatever little I am today I owe to my family and my gurus.

Q. What is your advice to young achievers and passionate students who wish to take up dancing as a career choice?
Dancing is an enthralling experience by itself and filled with many opportunities. Captivating and making the best out of it will change one’s life like it did to me.