Complete yet Changing

That is Sucheta Chapekar. With her tremendous contribution to the Indian Classical Dance forms and invention of a dance style 8212; Nrityaganga, an amalgamation of Bharatnatyam and Indian Classical Music 8212; progressive thinking is the characteristic of this doyen. Starting December 4, a three-day dance festival, Parikrama, has been organised by Kalawardhini, a dance school by Chapekar on the occasion of her 60th birthday on December 6.

8220;The festival is conceptualised completely by my daughter and the students of Kalawardhini. As part of the festival, a number of renowned performers such as Shama Bhate, Sonal Mansingh and others will be presenting their art in front of the audience. But what is also significant is the participation by the young students of Kalawardhini,8221; says she. 8220;While I have respect for the old methods and techniques, I also have a lot of faith in the new generation. The younger generation needs to be encouraged to think on their own, instead of just teaching and training them. More than word-to-word and movement-to-movement transformation of the dance forms, it is important to hand it over to them in such a manner that they become independent originators,8221; feels she.

Out of the many facets of Chapekar that make her an outstanding performer and a progressive thinker, the most clearly visible is her ability to amalgamate the old traditions with changes in recent times and present them in a palette acceptable to both. And one of her most successful creations that has acquired the status of an independent dance form is Nrityaganga. 8220;I got the opportunity to learn south Indian dance forms and it was the same learning experience that taught me that Maharashtra also has its roots in south India. Maharashtra has always been a bridge between the north and the south. And I thought of making this bridge a traditional and cultural gateway. Nrityaganga is an amalgamation of compositions in Indian Classical music and Bharatnatyam,8221; explains she. The recognition and appreciation Nrityaganga has received since its introduction in 1982, is well known.

With her book 8212; Nrityatmika 8212; to be released during the festival, Chapekar is extremely content about the journey till date. 8220;It has been a fulfilling and rewarding journey. My contribution to the field of dance and Indian Classical art forms was not intentional but a part of the passion that I have for dance. Things just followed and I, like a third person, watched my own journey, just to realise that in the age old traditions of Indian Classical dance forms, my contribution is like a drop in the ocean,8221; she concludes.