Dancing through the decades: Kuchipudi dancer talks about her ups and downs

Yashoda Thakore is a name to reckon with in the Kuchipudi scene. She’s been dancing for more than three decades and yet, feels that she is still learning. Excerpts from a take five with the danseuse.

1) How did your journey in dance begin? How old were you?
I was 3 years when TV was introduced in Hyderabad and I would spend my time watching a classical dance programme. It was then that I told my father about dance, but my parents waited for a while before they enrolled me in Vempati Chinna Satyam’s dance academy. It was there that I started dancing at the age of 6.

2) What has dance taught you?
Conviction and commitment are the two things that dance has taught me.

3) What are the ups and downs that you have faced?
When I left my institute after 14 years to start on my own I learnt things the hard way. I found that I had to do a lot of things on my own and after a point I felt very low. I couldn’t perform much, that was one of the lowest points in my life. However, there were plenty of ups. For instance, when I got my PhD, wrote my book and started performing on my own.

4) Any regrets?
Yes. I wish I was able to do much more than what I have. More in terms of music and dance.

5) What is your take on the Devadasi dance form? You have been working on bringing it back since long.
There is no question of bringing it back, especially when the dance form never disappeared. The devadasi dance form has been the inspiration behind several other dances and so it has always been part of the society. I just want to spread  knowledge about it.