The Natya Sansthan under Madhu Natraj has restructured its courses for online learning
As a participant in a dance improvisation program organized as part of the American Arts Festival, New Delhi, Madhu Nataraja was asked to demonstrate several ways in which the index finger could be moved. Impressed by the young girl’s imagination, the master told her, “If the three joints of your index finger can be used to express, think of the infinite permutations and combinations of movements that you can make of all the muscles and joints of the body.” This is the power of dance.” For someone who was unwilling to dance professionally, these words made a huge impact and Madhu took her into the performing arts.
The daughter of renowned Kathak dancer and choreographer Maya Rao, she went beyond training and structured repertoire to explore dance on her own terms, eventually becoming the head of the Natya Institute of Kathak and Choreography, which her mother founded under Kamaladevi Chattopadhyay. Started with a new one. Delhi in 1964. It was moved to Bengaluru at the behest of late Karnataka Chief Minister Ramakrishna Hegde. Later, Madhu launched a STEM (Space, Time, Energy, Motion) dance company to focus on contemporary choreography. “I combined martial arts and yoga with Kathak. Since I choreographed my first production in 1995, I have always collaborated with other disciplines like sculpture, painting and theatre, to give an immersive experience to the audience. ”
structured curriculum
The Natya Sansthan introduces the students to the aesthetics of choreography through some uniquely designed courses. Due to the pandemic, the courses have gone online, and they cover a wide range of topics ranging from Indian aesthetics and art history, the history of Natyashastra and choreography, movement analysis, cultural anthropology, stage lighting, set design, costume and much more. Huh. “The aim is to develop a holistic vision,” says Madhu.
“We had to restructure the courses for online learning. We started two new courses – Skill Diploma in Choreography and Skill Diploma in Kathak – certified by JUX and Jain University (Deemed). Designed as a mentorship programme, 12 students from around the world are selected and trained for one year. The first batch of students is close to completing their course,” says Madhu.
In May 2020, Dr. Maya Rao Kathak and Choreography Conference was started. “It was conducted virtually. Instead of 400 people participating, we had around 30,000 views. Such is the reach of the digital platform, but we have to take care that its impact does not diminish. After the onset of the pandemic From now on, the big challenge has been to sustain ourselves financially.”
The institute now works in three areas – creating new contemporary works, training young dancers and reaching out to rural areas through art. “In the last one year, we have raised funds to help more than 100 folk artistes,” says Madhu.
The dancer says that she can never forget her mother’s words when she was trying to dance back. “He told me, ‘Ask yourself if you have the ability to choose creative gratification over monetary gain. If yes, then go ahead and pursue your dreams.'”
The author is from Chennai
freelance writer.