Out of the shadows

Classical dance forms in India, whether it’s the likes of Bharatanatyam, Kuchipudi or Kathak, have always been treated with respect, towards the performer and the performance. But with a dance form that’s just as old — if not older — that’s related to Devadasis, it’s usually met with the same amount of scorn and stigma as the community itself.

“The irony about Devadasis is that people from the community themselves don’t associate with each other because they don’t want to be known as a Devadasi. They’re shunned by, both, their own and people from outside too,” says Kuchipudi danseuse Dr Yashodha Thakore, who also trained in the Kacheri Ata (solo) and Bhamakalapam (theatre) styles of the Devadasi dance form.

Mangatayaru is a sixth generation practitioner of these forms, having been trained under her grandmother. Her family has been associated with the Uma Suryaswara Swamy temple in the East Godavari village of Mummidivaram, and she has dedicated her life to ensuring her community’s art forms don’t die.

While people from her community have shunned the art form, opting to be seen as mainstream with theatre, Kuchipudi or Bharatanatyam, there has been a revival of sorts with more and more outsiders wanting to learn the form. “Nobody from the community wants to learn any more. The people of the community consciously stayed away from the dance. But even if I was born in another life, I would still want to come back and do this. I dedicated myself to the art,” she says.

Yashodha has been bringing Mangatayaru to the city to showcase and document the Devadasi dance forms, as well as educate people about the myths surrounding the community. “Most outsiders think that if they can do erotic padams (performance) on stage, they must be good in bed. Because of this, there are many people from outside who sell themselves under this Devadasi name,” she explains.

Currently focusing on the Bhamakalapam, Yashodha hopes that focusing on the dance will also help people from the community learn that they have nothing to hide. She says, “We bring them on stage and showcase the dance and show people that they’re respected for their art. The focus remains on their art and nothing else. People who are highly placed need to say that they’re from the community. It will give confidence to others.”