In a field which is a stronghold of women, this man takes special delight in being part of the fraternity. After 14 years of factoring in on the dance scene, Sathya P G still feels he is yet to reach his full potential. Shedding all apprehensions over the taboos attached to men in creative fields, he decided to go with his gut and pursue his first love—dance.
This choice, however, didn’t prevent him from dabbling in marketing and systems management and brief stints in fields, which now allow him to work as a graphic designer for his dance team.
His decision to team up with dancer buddies and form the troupe ‘Nritarutya’ in 2000, he feels, has been his best move yet, as he couldn’t have asked for a better forum for artistic expression. He says, “I just love our rhythm. Building on our language of contemporary dance is really interesting, given that all the different influences and ideas of our team members are often interwoven to form interesting dance sequences.”
So what kind of choreography is he into? “Creative dance with definite strains of Indian classical movements. I never underwent any formal training during childhood but I have picked up Bharatnatyam and Kathak, just as I’ve learned Taekwondo and Kalaripayattu. Knowing the basics of these art forms has definitely been instrumental in applying a variety of styles to my choreography.”
His piece titled ‘Tha’, incorporates these elements with an acrobatic touch to the sequence, which he will be showcasing in Trafalgar Square in London on August 4 and 5. “The trend today in contemporary dance is generally the application of western steps but Indian influences can be thoroughly captivating. And that is something I wish for the rest of the world to see,”says Sathya.
Is it a big bad world out there for a male dancer, trying to make a mark? “My talent has spoken for me and earned me appreciation. Sure, I hit roadblocks at times when I feel I lack ideas. But then as is the case with my graphic design or any field for that matter. I refresh myself by reading books, doing research, and things it takes to get ahead in any sphere,” he says.
And the best thing about being part of this field? “Well it certainly doesn’t hurt being around the talented, beautiful girls in my team,” he says light-heartedly, adding on a more serious note: “It’s the best feeling when you’re doing something you like and getting paid for it.”
A word to youngsters aspiring to break it into this field: “As banal as it may sound, you just have to follow your dreams. Don’t compromise on what you believe in. This is something I’ve always dreamt of doing and it’s something I’ll continue to do till I die,” ends Sathya on a philosophical note.
