The Vanishing Nayaka

This is ironic considering it was men who were largely responsible for the codification and formalisation of most Indian classical dances in their modern forms. Amrita Lahiri,head of programming for dance,at the National Centre for Performing Arts (NCPA) in Mumbai,says,“Many of the geniuses who have shaped the nature of Indian classical dance have in fact been male. For instance,in Kathak,we had the great Birju Maharaj,and in Odissi,we had Kelucharan Mohapatra. Every single style has had a guru of this stature.”

The NCPA’s upcoming Mudra Dance Week,starting April 26,will put the spotlight on the ‘nayaka’. This includes not just male characters — woefully neglected in Indian classical dance forms — but also dancers,choreographers and poets who have shaped the evolution of dance. It will feature prominent male dancers such as Pradhan,Sheejith Krishna (Bharatanatyam) and Margi Vijayakumar (Kathakali) as well as female dancers like Shambhavi Vaze (Kathak) and Shobha Korambli (Kuchipudi),who will essay various aspects of the ‘nayaka’.

The need for such attention becomes evident when speaking to Chennai-based Krishna. “A lot of organisers and dance sabhas feel that to attract an audience,you need more glamour and that can only come from women,” he says. That apart,India remains a patriarchal,conservative society where men are expected to be the breadwinners for their families. In that context,dance becomes a ‘frivolous pursuit’,where money is not regular. “In the best of times,you can expect regular engagements on the circuit,but often there aren’t enough to ensure a steady flow of money,” says Krishna.

What has really added to their woes is that far fewer men form the subjects of classical dance pieces in India,as compared to women. Traditionally,it’s the ‘nayika’ whose story enchants both dancers and the audience,as compared to the ‘nayakas’. Could that also be a reason for male dancers getting fewer opportunities to perform? Lahiri says,“A lot of men do insist on portraying strong,masculine characters — Lord Shiva is a special favourite. Many have also beautifully performed female roles. A good dancer needs to be gender-neutral in his or her performance of a role.”

Of late,there have been efforts to bring more men into classical dance,with special workshops and festivals. A good example is the Marga Darshana dance festival in Bhubaneswar,initiated by Kelucharan Mohapatra’s dance institute,Srjan. Another festival is Chennai’s four-year-old Nartaka Dance Festival.