Every year, April 29 is observed as International Dance Day to celebrate the diverse art form. While Bollywood music and dance is popular in India, Indian classical dancers say a lot more needs to be done to create awareness among children, parents and educational institutions about the traditional dance forms
Updated On: 2023-04-29 02:42 PM IST
Compiled by : Nascimento Pinto
Mumbai-based Mohiniyattam dancer Aneri Sheth says one of the biggest challenges is that most children are interested in dancing like they do in the entertainment industry. They want to dance like Katrina Kaif and Alia Bhatt in Bollywood because it looks good. They also find classical dance very slow, boring and structured. Image for representational purposes only. Photo Courtesy: Istock
It is not only the students but also the parents who want to see their children on stage as soon as they start learning any dance form. However, that is not possible because learning the classical art forms takes time and at least two years to perfect a dance composition to perform on stage, according to city-based Kathak dancer Rupali Desai and Bharatanatyam dancer Alka Lajmi. However, they have seen that after two years, the parents automatically learn more about the dance form and enjoy the process. Image for representational purposes only. Photo Courtesy: Istock
While students and parents are part of the ecosystem, Sheth doesn't blame them but puts the onus on educational institutions to teach students more about the art forms. However, most institutions treat dance as a form of entertainment and not education. It is used as a method for children to relax after they have spent time studying but she says that needs to change. Image for representational purpose only. Photo Courtesy: istock
Lajmi, who has been a teacher for 25 years, believes that there are some schools that focus on Indian classical dance forms but the number is very less. It depends on the curriculum adopted by the school, which gives them the liberty to explore art as a subject. The fact that it takes many years to learn them may be a deterrent for many of them. Image for representational purposes only. Photo Courtesy: istock
Lajmi says the best way that Indian classical dance can be promoted, especially in educational institutions, is by hosting lectures and dance demonstrations to raise awareness about the subject so that more students can learn about them. Image for representational purposes only. Photo Courtesy: Istock
