Put on your dancing shoes

Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, there’s a dance for everyone. Two left feet, too much fat, no time, no energy…the excuses can wait, as Radha Prathi offers a modern-day ode to dancing.

Yashaswini, all of six, is training in Bharatanatyam, hip-hop and ballet, in the hope of performing her arangetram in a year or two.

Her classmate Shreya aims at winning dance competitions at school and, perhaps, a couple of reality shows.

Geetha, a young lecturer, has taken to Bollywood dancing to shed a few kilos and facilitate her journey towards motherhood.

Shudhdho, a middle-aged techie, has chosen to reduce his cholesterol levels by treading the path of Salsa for six months.

People are taking to dancing these days like never before. Age and gender do not matter.

People are busy, swaying and stomping to Bollywood and hip-hop songs, or breaking into a sweat with Zumba and Salsa.

This does not mean that classical forms like Bharathanatyam, Kuchipudi, Mohiniyattam et al have taken a back seat.

There are takers, alongside ballet and tap dance, for folk forms like Yakshagana, Kathakali and snake dances, too.

And with the growing popularity of fusion forms and laser dances, even the physically-
challenged enthusiasts can shake a leg today.

Dancing has certainly come of age because it has boldly crossed the conventional threshold across the globe.

Once upon a time, dance lay in the realms of the male domain.

The art was used to propitiate various gods and nature, assist rites and rituals, and celebrate festivals and functions.

Women of uncertain patriarchy entered the scene at a later date.

It did take a very long time for mankind to accept the fact that dancing was a form of art, which could be pursued by either sex.

Traditionally, the art was inculcated in young children, who would learn and practise the same for years before displaying their talent on a public platform.

Knowledge of music, a percussion instrument and some exposure in the genre of dance to be pursued were considered to be mandatory criteria to learn dancing.

All of that is passé now. You cannot turn a street in the cities of India without
discovering a dance class of some sort.

You cannot tune into a television channel without chancing upon a reality dance show or at least a movie in which a dance sequence is on.

No programme in educational institutions or corporate organisations can be deemed complete without people boogying away.

It is the easiest form of entertainment with no strings attached, for one can get on with the routine in a matter of ten to fifteen minutes.

Today, the value of the art of dancing has been rediscovered all over again.

It is now toted as a sure way for busting stress, burning calories and generally, steering life along the curve of all-round wellbeing. Most people are attracted towards the glamour factor of dance, though.

We no longer have to spend a good decade or so of our lives training under a guru trying to master the nuances of the art.

We need instant gratification and prefer light entertainment.

There are courses, which help you dance away to a popular tune at a wedding in a matter of six hours over two or three days, as well as those which span over six to eight months and help you master the moves for a set of six to ten tunes.

Summer camps and Christmas vacations promise to do the needful in a week or ten days.

Once an individual or a select group learns the steps well, they are encouraged to perform on stage, thereby instilling a sense of confidence in the performer.

The purists may not approve of this dancing in the fast lane.

But, these new-age dancers see the enhanced self-esteem and wellbeing improve their
general quality of life.

What is dance, really? It’s the culmination of the right kind of music, rhythm, body movements and body language.

In other words, dance is a translation of emotions into graceful gestures involving all the parts of the body.

The dancer has to be consciously involved in the art.

Even a moment of distraction can hamper not just the visual appeal, but also the rhythm established between the mind and body.

Though dance forms have undergone a sea change over the millennia, the essence of the art remains the same.

When bodily movements and facial expressions coordinate with our thoughts and feelings, the individual reaches a stage of equanimity, which can prove to be a boon not only to the dancer, but also to all those associated with the artist.

A person who journeys through this aesthetic art will learn the significance of matching the physical self with the mental self.