International Dance Day – April 29
Dancing is like dreaming with your feet. – Constanze Mozart
As dreams are one’s birthright, the same goes for the dance. Anyone with the willingness to express emotions can fathom and solidify it through synchronised physical movement called as dance, regardless of their age, gender, physical ability, or prior experience. Dance has been an important part of ceremonies, rituals, celebrations and entertainment since before the birth of the earliest human civilizations. Even though there is diversity in dance forms throughout the cultures of the world, the central ideology remains the same: to express. With that in mind, this year’s theme for International Dance Day is to celebrate the versatility and popularity of dance as an art form.
In order to discuss the same on the eve of International Dance Day, Sunday POST sat down with a few prominent dancers and dance enthusiasts and here is what they had to say:
‘Dancing is appreciating
the power of creativity’
Debasish Sahoo, a former corporate professional and founder of Dance Ka Keeda Studios in Bhubaneswar, has actively pursued his passion for dance to reach the place he is today. Sharing his inspiration, he says, “I didn’t have much exposure to dance growing up, but I was always passionate about art, music, and physical activity. I first got introduced to it through dance societies in college. I discovered that dance was the perfect way to bring together my love for art, music, and movement. Dance resonated with me from the soul. As my skills developed, I found it essential to have in my life, and so the dancer in me was born.”
He further adds, “I have been dancing for over nine years and explored an array of dance styles. Although I have attempted numerous different dance forms, I have a particular fondness for hip-hop and Bollywood. However, I am also actively involved in other styles such as lyrical, folk (including Bhangra and Sambalpuri), afro, freestyle, jazz, and salsa.”
Narrating the impact of dance on his personal and professional life, he says, “The moment I began to learn and perform dance, I found an appreciation for the power of creativity and crafting something originally beautiful from the scratch and sharing it with others. It had a profound impact on all aspects of my life. Throughout this journey, my involvement with dance has grown into a significant and passionate commitment, helping me to become more focused and dedicated in my life. In fact, my passion for dance even prompted me to transition from a corporate position at an MNC to starting my dance studio in Bhubaneswar, so that I could build a life around it.”
“The theme for this year is centred around acknowledging the significance of dance and its cultural value on a global scale. Dance can be defined as the act of using artistic movement to experience joy within oneself, which makes it accessible to all cultures and nationalities. As various cultures express themselves uniquely through dance, new forms of dance emerge. Dance allows different cultures to learn about themselves and each other, fostering love, empathy, and a sense of belonging,” Debasish concludes.
‘Odissi is my true calling in life’
Lucky Prajna Pratisthita Mohanty, disciple of Padma Shri awardee Guru Kumkum Mohanty , a skilled artiste and connoisseur with several accolades, says, “Watching Odissi dance performances on Doordarshan as a child inspired me to pursue a career in Odissi. I was mesmerized by the intricate footwork, fluid movements, and emotive expressions of the dancers. I attribute much of my success to the channels’s inspiration and encouragement.”
Elaborating his journey, he says, “My specialisation is in Odissi dance, which is a classical dance form originating from Odisha. I reside in Cuttack, where there is an institution called Kala Vikas Kendra. My father enrolled me in this institution, and it was there that I received formal training in Odissi dance. I was initially introduced to it because of its accessibility in my hometown, but my interest grew after watching performances on television. I further pursued my passion and completed my Masters in Odissi dance from Sambalpur University.”
Sharing the significance of Odissi dance in his life, Lucky comments, “It is impossible for me to envision a life without Odissi as it is an integral part of my being. I strongly believe that it is my calling in life and I cannot fathom doing anything else. I feel as though it is a divine plan for me to become an Odissi dancer. Whether it is in my personal or professional life, I am content and fulfilled with whatever comes my way, as long as I am able to continue practicing and performing.”
“For me, the true measure of success in my pursuit of dance is not fame or fortune, but rather achieving God’s grace and emulating the artistry of my Guru. I aspire to convey this through my performances and artistic expression, as it is the ultimate fulfilment of my passion. To become a successful dancer, one must possess qualities such as sincerity, passion, practice, and humbleness. Sincerity allows you to perform with genuine emotion; passion drives your dedication; practice hones your skills; and humbleness keeps you open to learning and growing as a dancer. My Guru imparted the skill of ‘Abhinaya’, and I followed her instructions meticulously. Ultimately ‘Abhinaya’ became my signature style, bringing me greater fame as a dancer. I attribute my success in dance entirely to my Guru’s teachings,” he adds.
“Teaching and performing Odissi keep me motivated every day. As a teacher, I am driven by my students’ progress, and receiving dance programme invitations pushes me to practice more. Dancing in front of my guru gives me immense motivation. I suggest having backup options since the dance field is highly competitive. If dance is your passion, pursue it wholeheartedly”, signs off Lucky.
‘Enjoying the dance is crucial’
Subhajit Dash, a native of Cuttack, is an IT engineer and content creator who dances for fun and has been dancing since his school days. Sharing his journey, Subhajit says, “My source of inspiration is my mother, who is an excellent Odissi dancer and won multiple awards during her college days. Her love and passion for dance have inspired me to follow in her footsteps. Additionally, Rahul Naik, a friend of mine, is a professional dancer who juggles his passion for dance with a corporate job. He taught me the true essence of dance and further fueled my passion. Being a huge admirer of Bollywood, I used to limit myself to that genre. But, my experience changed when I was enrolled in ITER and got exposed to various other dance forms such as tutting, hip hop, isolation, lyrical, and others. This allowed me to broaden my knowledge and skills in dancing beyond the confines of Bollywood and opened up new possibilities for me to explore and experiment.”
“Dancing has had a significant impact on my life, both personally and professionally. It brings me immense joy and adds a sense of fulfilment to my life. Whenever I am feeling down or happy, I turn to music and dance, which instantly uplifts my mood. In fact, I often find myself spontaneously dancing to any music that I hear. Unfortunately, due to a ligament injury, there was a time when I was unable to dance, but I have partially recovered and can now resume,” he later adds.
In his opinion, three things are essential to becoming a great dancer: First, one must possess a deep understanding of music, which enables them to identify and dance to every beat and rhythm of a song. Secondly, enjoying the dance is crucial, as it brings enthusiasm and heart to the performance, resulting in flawless body movements and style. Thirdly, daily practice is necessary to improve skills and learn new dance styles. Pursuing a career in dance requires dedication and focus, sticking to a particular style and avoiding distractions.
‘Dancing has been a tremendous aid,
both personally and professionally’
Ananya Anupama Sharma, who is currently pursuing a BBA at the DAV School of Business Management, shares her inspiration behind her journey and says, “Ever since I was a child, I’ve had a deep passion for dancing. Whenever I heard music, my legs would start moving automatically. As I grew older, my interest in dance only continued to grow. I can attribute much of my inspiration and motivation to my mother, who encouraged and supported me along the way. Dancing has become an integral part of who I am, and I feel grateful to have discovered this passion at such a young age.”
Elaborating on several forms of dance Ananya continues: “My area of expertise lies in different styles of dance, including Odissi, folk, contemporary, and freestyle. Odissi is a traditional form that originated in Odisha, while folk dance refers to the traditional dances of a particular region or community. Contemporary dance is a modern dance form that incorporates elements of different dance styles, and freestyle is an improvised dance style that allows for creativity and self-expression.”
Asked how dance has played a decisive role in her life, she adds, “Personally, dancing has been a tremendous aid in combating feelings of loneliness and boosting my self-confidence. Whenever I’m feeling down, I find that dancing in a joyful manner helps me overcome obstacles. Professionally, dancing has also helped me build confidence and overcome stage fright. In summary, dancing has had a positive impact on both my personal and professional life by providing a means of communication, bolstering my confidence, and helping me cope with negative emotions.”
To stay passionate about dancing, Ananya likes to explore various dance styles and watch diverse dance performances. Setting new dance goals is another way she keeps things fresh and challenging in my dance practice, says Ananya.
