Classical arts are very much alive and changing. I spent the weekend in NYC at the Erasing Border Dance festival held by the Indo American Arts Council. I am so glad I came to this event. In attendance were some truly wonderful artists and art appreciators. Festivals like this, occasions that showcase talent really cannot be done without the support of a community. This segment of the Erasing Borders festival was focused on contemporary Indian dance. (Whether artists chose to call their practice contemporary, experimental, modern, etc is truly an artist's decision.) What I appreciated was seeing where Classical dance is headed. The fusion of different styles and concepts, rooted in the classical dances forms of India, still presented as Indian Arts with a twist.
These artists were phenomenal. Each and every one of them has committed to the practice of dance (in multiple forms). Rarely do I see this type of work. In the process of experiencing them, I was able to get to know a few. In discussing our thoughts on the practice of classical dance, we all had one common sentiment and that is love and appreciation of what the classical training has given us. Dr. Mitul Sengupta, a Kathak contemporary artist from Kolkata, India presented a work on "the son born of Ulupi and Arjuna, was convinced to sacrifice his life to save the Pandavas from losing the war, as a sacrifice to Lord Kali.It is the dance of the desolate and song of the voices, which echoes from the deep within “that we are trapped, unheard of and desolate.” (iaac.com).
Subhash Viman Gorania, finally I saw Bharatanatyam and hip hop mixing, the right way! Thank goodness. He wowed all of us with his piece Morphed. The combination of Bharatanatyam, Kathak, Urban Dance, Bollywood, and I am sure there are other styles in there that I am missing, was eye opening. His movements were so quick and mudras so clear, that from my seat, I could differentiate the different images of the gods intermixed with the images of common men.
Meena Murugesan, for me her piece spoke the loudest. I loved the breakdown of adavus and the deconstruction of the history of Bharatanatyam.