Performing classical dance can be a daunting task, performing it for an audience more accustomed to regional dance forms and that too at the time of Margazhi can make the engagement more challenging.
But for Odissi dancer Dakshina Raghavendra who has embraced innovation as her style, it's a challenge that she accepts with excitement. "Often in the south, forms like Odissi are not popular. This is why I would love to give a glimpse of this dance form here in Chennai.
It's always interesting to see new dance styles composed in different languages." says Dakshina Raghavendra. The dancer who wishes to carry forth the tradition of Odissi has proved her mettle at Carnatic music, learning it from Bombay sisters and Smt.Bombay Jayashree and also plays the piano.
"A number of things have attracted me to the art form. Simply put, the art form itself is so beautiful. I instantly fell in love with its grace and abhinaya (the story telling). The stories of gods and goddesses and the myths surrounding them are depicted so beautifully through Odissi.
Having a Guru like Radhika Samson has also played a major role in this. She allows you to grow as an independent artist while always reminding us to stay true to the form", she says, when asked about choosing to focus on Odissi more.
Dakshina, who has trained under Nritya Bhushan, Radhika Samson, a leading soloist is presently training under Pandit Barun Kumar Pal, enjoys every moment of her student hood,
“I believe my teachers have always encouraged me to expose myself to various art forms in order to find my true calling, and I found it in Odissi. As a student I have few responsibilities, to practice rigorously and push myself to the maximum extent, as well as always remember along the way, why I am doing what I do. It's not for anyone but me, because it makes me happy and ultimately complete."
Even though her passion for dance has taken her places, including prestigious ones like India International Center-New Delhi, Indian Institute of Technology-Mumbai, Bharti Bhavan-Jaipur, India Habitat Center and Lok Kala Manch - New Delhi and requires a lot of practice, she seems to have found a formula to balance it. "In my opinion when you have passion for something, there is no need to manage per say.
I am very passionate about the subject of psychology as well as dance and these factors into the end result of the effort I put in. I find art to be the best form of relaxation, be it through art, music or dance. And this allows me to have a symbiotic balance between my academics and my extracurricular activities" she adds.
For performing in Chennai, she had made various changes in her routine." I have tried to include south Indian raagams, such as Shankarabaranam to make it more relatable for the audience.
"Performing arts have always been a part of our culture and lives as Indians no matter which part of the country we are from. In order for the next generation and some of my generation to adopt the performing arts, we must include new and interesting innovation.
