Dance with the wind

Amma, there's been derailment in Surat and my musicians still haven't arrived. It seems that this will have to be another extempore performa...

Amma, there8217;s been derailment in Surat and my musicians still haven8217;t arrived. It seems that this will have to be another extempore performance,quot; said Mallika Sarabhai, showing no signs of fraying. In fact, the danseuse seemed to see the comic side of the situation as she spoke to her mother on the phone. Rather remarkable, considering that the conversation took place just an hour before Sita8217;s Daughters, last Friday. quot;It8217;s been part of the deal ever since. Nothing has changed,quot; said Mallika, laughing. quot;On second thoughts, a lot has. Years have rolled by and Amma8217;s Ahmedabad-based academy of performing arts, Darpana, will turn 50. A hectic, yet an exciting year lies ahead,quot; she added.

For a fact. Darpana 508217;s calendar for the coming year reads like this: the first event on the agenda is the Vikram Sarabhai International Arts Festival, followed by 10 month-long festivals and several three-day festivals. The year ends with another Vikram Sarabhai festival. quot;When Amma started the academy in 1949,Classical dance and music weren8217;t for nice, homely8217; girls. She was reluctant, but my father encouraged her saying, If you have to explain dance through the roots of Classicism then you have to train people to be an audience first8217;. Since then we have come a long way,quot; says Mallika, adding that quot;probably more young girls are enthusiastic about Classical dance in Gujarat than in South India.quot;

The hectic schedule is also part of Mallika8217;s attempt to revive and reinvent the institute. Fifty years after its inception, Mallika feels the need to reassess their initial brief. This leading Bharat Natyam and Kuchipudi soloist feels strongly about constant change, which is why she expanded Darpana8217;s canvas to the performing arts where art and life met, and the horizon of language was stretched. quot;From a few dancers and some performances, Darpana now has to its credit 600 workshops, around 450 productions in dance, drama and puppetry, 23,000 performances in 91 countries, seven original publications and reprints ofrare manuscripts and revival of 17 near-extinct art forms,quot; she said. There is Darpana for Development, the puppet company, the theatre company, Centre for Non-violence through Arts, Janavak for folk revival, Chitrakathi film unit, Mapin Publishing and a trust for interdisciplinary work in arts and crafts, Kritikranti.

The evolution wasn8217;t easy though. First Mallika and Mrinalini had to put together a think tank people with a background both in the arts and in the management of change. Their vision: sweep out the old days of centralised rule and ring in an era of freedom. Within certain designed parameters 8212; make your own rules and frame your own punishments if you break them. The experiment worked and today, Darpana has not only kept pace with change but also initiated change. quot;Our way of celebrating the evolution is this festival,quot; said Mallika.

The festival will include three dance-music-theatre fusion pieces to be staged in Usmanpura, Ahmedabad. Darpana has invited two American, a British and aScottish director to work with them. December will also witness the mother and daughter taking to the stage 8212; Mrinalini and John Martin will render a 14th century Persian Sufi poet8217;s work and Mallika will perform her famous Khanabadosh. This will be followed by Mahotsav 8217;99 which was last held in 1984 and was later cancelled twice because of lack of sponsors. This time Star TV has bought worldwide rights for this folk festival which is open to all.

Darpana 50 will also have a children8217;s festival in February next year, performances by and on women in March, an environment festival in April and performances exploring the themes of peace and violence in October. In May, there will be performances on the life and works of Gujarati litterateurs. quot;The idea is to bring it to your doorstep, to have dance and theatre known and appreciated,quot; explained Mallika. quot;After all, Darpana was started to build an audience.quot;