Move on

My guru never allowed me to perform in public till my basic education in the dance form was completed. So,my first performance was during my Aarangetram in 1963 under Parvati Kumari in Mumbai. Not only did it help me get the required confidence but also helped me take a decision that shaped my life. Till then,I was interested in so many things like – trekking,reading,painting and dancing. But after my Aarangetram,I knew that dance was my calling. Unlike present days,Aarangetram back then used to be a huge affair,which were reviewed in the newspapers. Mine too,was a huge event,as my father had invited large number of people. I was more excited than nervous during the programme,which was a long one with two breaks. The only problem was that I was too lazy to put my costume and make up myself. It was a task for me to go through that process of dressing up. My latest performance was at Balgandharva during a function organised by the Bank of Maharashtra,where I performed the Nritya Gang,which is a flow of tradition showcased through the dance form.

Sandip Soparrkar,Western Dance

It amuses me to think about my first performance,as it was very different from the ones that I do now. I was in the first grade when I participated in a fancy dress contest,where I not only had to don the dress of a Bharatnatyam dancer,but also perform like one. I remember I went to my neighbour to learn the basics of the dance form so that I could actually dance like one. After a two-week training,I was given a saree,jewellry and was made to look like a female Bharatnatyam dancer for which I won the first prize. My mother still has that saree with her as a memory of that victory. My latest dance performance,however,was for the PETA ad campaign. My wife and I were to perform for the ad,which was made for their – Save the Snake campaign. In the performance we had to act like a snake and through our dance depict a story about a snake’s life,which is endangered. We showcased that how snakes that could otherwise live for 100 years die within 15 years because of the indifference of human beings. It was memorable for two reasons,both good and bad. The good being that the storyline was very inspiring and I wanted to do it,and the bad being that I had a severe backache problem just a week before the performance and I had to take very painful injections to perform on that day.

Maneesha Sathe,Kathak

I was nine-years-old when my mother had organised my first solo performace for her ladies club get together. Gokhale Hall in Laxmi Road was the venue and it was jam-packed,however,I wasn’t nervous at all. I was groomed in such a way that I never felt scared before giving my performance there and it turned out to be a good show,as I was told later on. My latest performance,which was on February 13 this year,was when I performed in Renu Gawaskar’s fund raising event. I was happy that I was able to contribute my bit through my dancing. I had performed with my daughter and daughter-in-law. I am a performer and the show is not yet over for me. Kathak is still new and afresh and all my effort will go in keeping it so by brining in new experiments.

Essa Duhaime,Belly dancer

It was a beautiful moment for me when I gave my first performance in 1988 in Canada. I performed a fusion of Ballet,Jazz and Gymnastics,when I was six- years-old. The show was a fund-raiser. Though I was nervous,but I just loved everything about the show – the glamour,attention,make,costume and also the complements that I got after the show were incredible.

My last performance,on the other hand,which was on April 23,was also a special moment for me,as I did everything for my

show from coordinating to choreography and from costume designing to performing.