After
much wait of one year and with lots of expectations ITF 2015 started on 5 Jan 2015
at the ITF ground often referred to as Exhibition ground, VIP road at Port Blair. Function was
inaugurated with fun and fare. Function was aired live on Doordarshan. Cultural
function started with a Kuchipudi dance. Keeping with modern trend music was
provided by the recorded cassette/tape. Now days it can be played by Pen drive
or CD player. Thus not much problem is there for flying in accompanying artist
from Mainland to Port Blair. I had faced this problem in 1997 when I came first
to the Port Blair. I had told my visit to my Guru Prerna Shrimali ji she
exclaimed how? What happened to you? Why you are going so far? Later same
amazement I saw on faces of Smt Kamalini and Nalini ji when I told them about A
& N Islands at their residence in New Delhi.
As a new artist one has to
struggle hard to establish oneself in the local politics of artists I faced
problem of gathering accompanying artists for my dance performance. Once I invited
a Mridangam artist to accompany me along with other artist- a tabla and one
sitar player. At the time of program he came but the tabla and sitar players
ganged up and said it will be difficult for them to play and they wish to go
away. I had asked Mrindang player to just give assistance by playing the adi talam to my dance. Thus bowing to the pressure of majority I asked Mridangam player to
not to play. I felt very sad. I had to pay few rupees to him as compensation.
The
name Andaman and Nicobar Islands has an impact on the psyche of people in
general.
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| Dancers of South Zone culture centre at ITF 2013 |
There
was a dance from Santhal region. The song was in Santhali, music was also
santhali but with some improvisations of flute artists. Dancers were dressed in
original looking dress however the original aroma was missing. The lead dancer
and others were dancing few steps of modern and Bharatnatyam dance.
As
we know Bengal region has rich heritage of dance and music not leaving behind
literature also. All credit goes to RabindraNath Tagore, every one called him
Guru thus he is known as Guru Rabindra. He revived art dance and music at
ShantiNiketan. Then credit also goes to Uday Shankar for bringing respect to
Indian Dance. When he brought dances of India on International platform or
rather it was called as WEST, then it was known as Oriental dance of east??
To
me it looked awkward, that Santhali doing bharatnatyam and modern steps while
performing the Folk dance of Santhal. I think it was not fault on part pf
dancers. They were all taught by their teachers, choreographers at the cultural
centres.
Dancers
from Jharkhand had already performed earlier. But I saw that some groups criss
crossing on stage, doing their dances. While other dance groups performing at
the centre stage. To me this crossing at front diverted attention on the dance
going on the centre stage. This could have been avoided.
Later
it came out that all groups of dances from different states had to perform
together at the stage. This part I never liked. There was no space left for
artist to continue performing their dances. All the groups together looked
crowded. But choreographers at these cultural centres compel themselves into
trying to show cultural unity in diversity of India. In return what we get on
stage is a khichdi of dances-A fusion of dances. Now days it has become fashion
among cultural troupes to just grab the opportunity of performing anywhere.
They perform everything thanx to event management companies. This profession
has developed leaps and bound in India.
Thus
young students professionals learners all are taken into the groups and they
perform all dances which they themselves do not know!! Mostly groups from urban
centres and cities get these contracts and thus they perform Though they lack
the true essence of “TRIBAL” and true aroma essence of anything called rural,
Folk or village.
Kashmiri
troupe in 2014 was much better than 2015 on inauguration day. I think few
elements must be showcased as a permanent entry in ITF. I will choose, Gotipua
dance from Odisha(orrissa) Chau dance. Kalari payattu of keral and the pong
cholam or Thang Ta of Manipur are few martial arts which catch attention of
crowd, Provided that the group is genuine or from the original place. These
arts requires years of learning.
BharatNatyam
and Kuchipudi are natural selection for ITF!!(?). Bhangra of Punjab and folk
dance of Haryana cannot be kept out of any such events for their shear high
energy elements.
Any
of Ghoomer dance from Rajasthan, Gujrat or MadhyaPradesh is also to be added. I
like the Rajasthani ghoomer.
The
Maganiar, Langa musicians from Rajasthan will be preferred for music
programs. Kalbelia can also be added.
Theatre
art of Maharastra, the Tamasha and /or Lavani dance can be added. Not too far
is the Konkani or Koli dance.
We
should sometime invite Yakshgan of Karnataka also to the ITF Port Blair if not
the Kathakali or Koothu, kodiyatam from kerala.
Later
there were dances from Sambhalpur, Odisha having the tribal/folk touch. Dress
& steps were looking very authentic. Very Young girls were doing the dance
thus slight slackness of seriousness was there. Also there was little lack of
coordination among small girls. Here lies the problem. Mostly when a groups
goes to distant place from a village very few people agree to send their wards.
Thus few families which are deeply involved in such type of ventures performing
outside of their village select people from their families or relatives. Few aunties
and cousins etc are selected. Such groups when perform one can easily find that
there are few old aunties or men and few young girls or boys perform together. This
is a problem we face in India. Either security of wards, young girls becomes an
issue. Imagine if a group from Interior village of Jharkhand or Odisha has to
visit to A & N Islands or to any other place in India such as Jammu and
Kashmir then no one else can imagine what goes on in the minds of family
elders. I know and can understand and also I can imagine it since I also belong
to a common family, and had been to villages.
Dance
as such still is not looked “good” upon as a profession. Even I passed out IIT
but back at mind I could not gather enough strength to make dance as my
profession? Even my own classmates, their parents, few teachers and relatives
and member of society look very differently at you when you are Dancer and that
too if you are Male dancer. I have gone through all such things during my
childhood.
While
the Sambhalpuri dance was going on suddenly there was rushing line of dancers
dressed like Rajastani costumes started criss crossing the stage. While a dance
was in progress what was the need of such rushing in? This happened every time when a folk dance was
performed.
There
was an announcement saying that now a dance from Madhya Pradesh. My eyes
refused to believe. The whole dress concept of dancers was akin to Rajasthani
and even dance movements were also. Dancers performed very well in
coordination. All the dancers were of “mature age” if I may say so. I mean
there were no small girls. There was a
matki dance group performance from MadhyaPradesh. Ikuh lb;k Hkjh
Egkjks nsojks lyrics
very much sounded like Haryanvi influence or Rajasthani.
There
was Ghoomra dance also.
Kasmiri
troupe came and performed their dance Since the language & music was also
very different thus they could not attract the attention of audience. Female
dancers were very young. They lacked coordination.
At
the back part of stage two young boys were sitting. Suddenly they started their
Sword play and acrobatics. It was martial arts from Manipur. Actually the name
is Thang Ta. These dance cum exercise and show of physical strength attracts lots
of attention of everybody present there. But for a dancer or a critic they
become an object of scrutiny and exercise which is done on beats of music and
critic sees that if that is done in coordination or not.
There
is another dance called “Pong Cholam” performed with percussion instrument “Dhol”
or a type of Mridangam/dholak of Manipur. T
he sounds of this dhol are very good
and pierce the inner self if you are a faithful observer. Mastering Pong Cholam
involves many years of training and practice.
After
the folk dances came the Manipuri dance on stage. It was very good. The dress
was authentic. This was looking original dance, because it had high standards. No
lack of coordination no missing of beats (Taal). No one can copy the dance
steps and perform. It requires serious learning under a guru/teacher. These
artists from Manipur performed the most famous “Rass” leela of Krishna and
gopis as we all knew the story. Or it is known as Maha Raas. Dancers were
showing good gLr
eqnzk Hast
Mudra and in
lpakyu
pad
sanchalan, though it is difficult but when one learns it then he or she can
perform better on beats of music.
Following are few photos of the Islands Tourism Festival 2013:-
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| Chau dancers at ITF 2013 Port Blair |
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| Gotipua dance at ITF 2013 Port Blair |
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| Gotipua dance at ITF 2013 Port Blair |
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| Dance of Jharkhand at ITF 2013 Port Blair |
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| energetic dance of Jharkhand by girls of A & N Islands |
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| Nicobari dance at ITF 2013 Port Blair- |
