Lest the Anklets Fall Silent

I had visited Nrityagram many years back to witness the wonderful Vasanta Habba. The entire premises that houses Nrityagram had come alive with the dancing of the feet, the expressions of the eyes, the graceful movements of the arms, the sensual sway of the body, soul-lifting music and the sound of the applause. It was at this festival that dance and music were experienced at its best - open to sky and in the month of February, when the weather in the outskirts of the city was simply perfect to host a festival of this degree of splendour! But that was many years ago. 

When I visited the place today, the circumstances were different. Sure, I hadn’t expected the ambience of the Vasanta Habba; but I wasn’t prepared for what I saw, either. I was informed by a lady at the reception that many of the dancers were away on a dance tour and may be that partly explained the reason behind the deserted atmosphere that the place wore. I walked through the expanse of the place, the wonderful architecture bringing me in direct connect with nature, a friendly dog basking in the sun and the tomato plants swaying to the gentle breeze. 

I was fortunate to have visited the place during the time a class was being conducted. I watched the Guru, demonstrate to her two disciples, meticulously, bol patterns (dha, ta, dhi, jhena etc) and their footwork. The Raymond’s room (which, obviously, was donated by the company) came alive with dedication, grace and a positive energy that can only be associated with an  ancient art form, in this case Odissi. The young ladies brought in a fluidity to their movements, their eyes flirting with the mudras that their hands so delicately wove even as pearls of sweat glistened above the brow or slid along the nape. As I watched, I remembered my days of learning Bharatnatyam as a child - the discipline that was expected of me as I tried to bring my eyes, arms and legs into a union of rhythm and form. The moment was nostalgic and my foot instinctively began tapping to the bol. When I saw all this I realised (yet again!) that my failure lay in a deficit in my dedication. And I left the room with admiration for the teachers who dedicate their time to teaching youngsters who thirst for the knowledge of art.

It has been a decade since the Vasanta Habba brought this ‘dance village’ to resplendent life. In my post on Corporate Cultural Responsibility I had shared my thoughts on the role that corporates can play in helping preserve the cultural vibrancy of the society they are a part of. I do hope that some corporates come forward in ensuring that this lovely endeavour in preserving the dance forms of the country continues to see the stage lights and hear the applause of the audience.