Desi moves

Manvi Jindal, a fifth grader from Hans Raj Public School, Panchkula, is one such dance enthusiast who finds her solace in Kathak. Manvi has recently won a national level dance competition and has also cleared the finals for Bal Shree. 8220;My parents encouraged me into classical dance, which I find so much better than Western dance forms. I find it both meaningful and fun-filled,8221; she says, adding that it is the dressing up for the performance that she likes best. As the number of learners increases, so does the number of dance schools, for which there is a word of caution. 8220;If you want to learn classical dances, they can be best taught by those who are into it completely. There are many who claim knowledge over Bollywood style dancing along with classical dance and others. You have be sure the trainer is not going to teach a mish-mash,8221; suggests Yogesh Sharma, a Panchkula based Kathak dancer and instructor from the Jaipur gharana. Speaking about 8216;Vir Ras8217; Sharma says , 8220;It is the dance that Lord Shiva performed to kill Maheshasur. Young children are quite interested in mythology. Through dance they learn history as well the techniques.8221; Sharma also emphasizes that knowledge of any dance form is incomplete if it8217;s not based on classical dance. 8220;Since classical dances teach you taal, bhav, body language, rhythm et al, one can do any dance form later on,8221; he affirms.

Classical, we know, is the base of all dance forms. Many dance students who have pursued Western dances are coming home to Indian moves. Dheeraj Jain, a 23-year-old BA student from PU says, 8220;I have been dancing since childhood and know many popular dance forms. Kathak was one which I did not know so I enrolled to learn the art. I now feel a lot more confident not only as a dancer but also as a person since classical dances are like meditation. Moreover my body is all the more flexible now!8221; Rahul Sharma, a 22-year-old dancer and teacher, elaborates, 8220;I know other dance forms like salsa, samba, jazz but I prefer Bharatnatyam over them because this represents our culture. This dance structure transforms your frame of mind as it is related to God. I have witnessed immense transformation in my students.8221; Rahul who has won many awards and accolades runs his own academy states that learning these dances encourages a person to lead a naturally disciplined life. While Sameera Koser, a classical dance instructor from the city, adds that traditional Indian dances also help in destressing. 8220;I can say that since I have done my PhD on the same subject and I have experienced it as well. What better way to live a calm life than by grooving to the rhythm!8221; she sums it up.

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