‘It’s time to rethink our attitudes’

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It’s actually quite surprising to see that we’ve been keeping the traditions of Indian classical dance in the US alive and we strive hard to do so since we miss our homeland,” says renowned Kathak danseuse Rachna Sarang, who has been teaching in the US for decades now.

For someone who learnt under the tutelage of greats like Pandit Sundarprashad, Pandit Lachhu Maharaj and Pandit Birju Maharaj, Rachna says that she finds discipline lacking among many young and upcoming dancers here. She is here with her troupe to perform a Kathak recital in Mumbai. Her repertoire for the show in Mumbai comprises a traditional Tarana, a dance piece on Sufi songs, Hanuman Chalisa and a ballet on Dashavatar.
She reminisces about her days in India before she left for the US to settle there. “I remember we practised so aggressively and would rehearse for hours and hours. There was no room for excuses and you had to obey your guru,” says Rachna. What she finds amusing and appalling in today’s scenario is the laxity that students come with. “They aren’t prepared for so much of hard work. And with so much of Internet around them all the time, they aren’t used to memorising and keeping in mind the sequences as there is always a YouTube to look up to. I’ve seen how the youth have increasingly become impatient over the years,” says Rachna adding that there are always exceptions to the rule. “Not all of them are like that. Those who are serious about pursuing a career are doing well. I see some innovative pieces being churned out, but nothing outstanding has caught my eye as yet,” she adds.
Rachna and her sister, the late Madhurita Sarang, were known as a popular duo for their exceptional rhythmic sense and chemistry. “We complemented each other so well. People could see it in our body language and probably since we enjoyed dancing with each other, it also reached the audience. I believe true dance reaches the audience if you put in your heart and soul into it,” she says. Of late, she says, the world of dance has become simply too commercial. “I have parents asking me about when their kid will dance on stage on the day they enroll their child in my institute. It’s quite insane since you have to first educate the parents and then the child. They want to see their children as great dancers instantly,” she says.
With Kathak having undergone many changes over the years, many dancers these days experiment with fusion like tap dancing and flamenco. Rachna says she is all for experimentation lest we keep our traditions alive and intact.
“The world is changing and you have to keep up with the times. What I disagree is with the way it is presented at times and the huge egos that our artistes develop. Maybe it’s time to rethink our attitudes and just focus on dance,” says Rachna.