Approach of Bharatha Natyam today
Subashini Pathmanathan
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Bharatha Natyam is really a solo dance form
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The learning of dance in the present community differs, from one
another, as well as compared to the previous society with the present
society. In the earlier society, the students really interested in fine
arts learnt the art with great enthusiasm, involvement and interest. It
was not a must for a student to learn a fine art, unless the student is
really interested to learn the art.
But today learning any art in the school level is a must for the
school curriculum. This attitude provides both positive and negative
results. Sometimes the students are forced to take up any fine art
subject without much interest to them, because it is a necessity for
them to take any fine art subject, whether they are interested or
talented in the exclusive selective field. Sometimes that might help
them gain a certain extent of knowledge in the art field, but it may not
help them to induce any interest in the artistic field, unless they are
really keen in it.
Different angles
Presently the dance field could be analyzed in three different
angles. One is based on the parents’ approach towards the dance. Next is
the student’s level of approach, and the last is the teacher’s level of
approach. Some parents send their children to learn dance because of
their keen interest in the field, some parents are sending to learn any
form of art to cherish their artistic talents.
The students’ attitude and approach towards the dance field also
differ. Some are learning the dance because of their own interest. Some
learn for exercise and for the maintenance of the body, or due to the
desire of their parents. Handling the art by the teachers also differ.
Some teachers handle the art with full dedication and devotion, and some
teachers have taken up just as a profession, and some teachers have
taken up dance to develop their own business purposes.
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The individuality of the students is found in the dance |
Now especially dance has become a school level subject. It provides
opportunity, for all to learn the art. Besides this today many are
attending the private dance classes with different intentions. Their
intention could be divided into different categories.
Learning the art
The students approach and the attitudes widely differ today. The
students are learning the art with different intentions. Some are
learning the art, just for the sake of learning the art and they
participate in a few programs, and give up the art, after taking some
photographs and video clippings of themselves. Some are learning because
their school friends and neighborhood friends are attending this divine
dance classes.
Some are learning the art to gain a degree or diploma to seek a job.
Some are learning and winding up their dance career with an Arangetram.
Mostly attending the dance classes have become as a hobby or attending
and learning the dance to gain some qualifications.
Except the classical Bharatha Natyam Arangetrams, most of the dance
shows arranged by the private dance schools are a mixture and variety of
dances which are included, as fusion, folk, creativity, and traditional
classical dance forms.
Constant pressure
Today the teachers are bound under the constant pressure of the
parents. The parents expect whether their children are up to the
standard or not, the teacher should take them to the stage performances,
without considering the real standards of their children. On the other
hand, the expenses of a public performance are also very high. Hence to
manage and meet the expenses, the teachers are forced to take the
maximum number of students to meet and manage the cost.
Hence according to the level of the age, standard, the teacher, who
is the choreographer and director, is forced to select the maximum
number of students for the programs. Only if their own children
participate in the programs, the parents will help the teacher to
collect the sponsors to meet the cost of the programs. Meanwhile the
mentality and approach of the teachers also differ.
Some teachers want to give chances to all the students irrespective
of their standards. Under such circumstances the teachers want to give
opportunity to cherish the students’ interest. Meanwhile some teachers’
give chances to all, irrespective of their standards, to promote their
own private business purposes.
Public feeling
If the hall is fully packed with people only the public feel it is a
successful programme. They do not realize after a certain rows in the
hall, the people can only see the figures of the dancers, not the full
nuances of the dance and the facial expressions of the dancers. But the
back row audience can only hear the music; unless a big the video screen
is used.
Many of times the mentality and outlook of the society are changed, a
few teachers have turned as dance traders; hence dance has become a
commodity product. Therefore naturally the marketing and advertisement
tactics have penetrated into the art field. This is also one of the main
reasons for the present drop out in the standard of the classical dance
field. A few decades ago the teachers’ decision was the final and there
was no interference from the parents’.
The cost of the programmes is very high in this present era. And no
proper sponsors are found for the classical shows. Bharatha Natyam is
really a solo dance form, but having six to seven students together in a
classical dance show is alright, but more than that would cover the
individual talents of the students and the individuality of the
students.
The teachers were kept in high esteem in earlier days. Still some
dance teachers are firmly adhered to the quality, and preserve the art
in a high standard, and try to transmit the art for the next generation
with pristine purity. |
