Words often don’t convey the best of emotions and expressions. And that’s what happens when you happen to watch dancers from the quaint old dance school Nrityagram at the outskirts of Bengaluru. This correspondent has gone through several emotions, moments of exhilaration and sheer delight each time she has watched the talented dancers from Nrityagram showcase their talent on stage and yet not been able to put their performances in the best perspective. Arguably, among the best Odissi dancers in the country and perhaps in the world, Nrityagram has established a name for itself like no other dance company in India. Started by the late Odissi danseuse Protima Bedi, this dance village has an inspirational story of its own. And with Bedi’s foremost and talented students and dancers Surupa Sen and Bijayani Satpathy, who are at the helm of affairs at the dance school, the story of Nrityagram has just grown bigger and successful.
Mumbai will have to set aside dates for a weeklong affair with Nrityagram from August 25 to September 2 at the National Centre for Performing Arts (NCPA). A rare treat for dance lovers, Nrityagram will be coming to Mumbai after two years, they last performed in 2010 in Mumbai. What awaits Mumbai is a series of dance events right from a powerful duet by Surupa and Bijayani on August 25 as they present Samyoga, which is the outcome of years expended in finding the perfect balance — of art and craft, of strength and grace, of technique and spirit, of confidence and vulnerability, of a male godhead and his essential feminine divine. Samyoga commences with Narayana Namah, verses by Annamacharya sung in praise of Lord Vishnu, performed by Surupa. This will be followed by Rati Shringar Pallavi set to Raga Desh, performed by Surupa Sen and Bijayini Satpathy. Several abhinaya compositions follow by way of ashtapadis from the Gita Govinda. Apart from their performance, they will also be a part of panel discussion with other noted dancers like Vaibhav Arekar and Sanjukta Wagh. Apart from performances, what most are looking forward to are the master classes by Surupa and Bijayani where they will focus on the “Nrityagram” technique, which they have built over the years and lends support to the Odissi movement. Collaboration with the Kandyan Dance Company and Chitrasena Dance Company is also in the offing, as they will present a dance recital on September 2.
As we de-construct the events at Nrityagram, Surupa talks about how the results have been showing in terms of awareness and prominence. From being written about extensively in The New York Times to being nominated for the prestigious Bessie Awards, the Nrityagram story has come a long way. “After 16 years there have been rewards and it’s been a steady growth. We’ve received a huge deal of recognition, which did come unexpected, but nonetheless, it has been incredibly encouraging. We’ve been doing mainstream work and somewhere I think it has started paying off,” says Surupa.
Surupa and Bijayani are often credited for making Nrityagram what it is today and envisioning the future of Nrityagram. What really makes them that special and unique? “I really don’t know about being counted among the best. The only difference as far as I can see is that we live our dance. We practically breathe it 24*7. We just don’t know anything else apart from dancing. Most of the times we often joke about how we travel extensively to different countries and yet we don’t have money. We are quite boring people that way,” states Surupa in an affirmative tone.
She goes on to say that it is simply the drive, the passion, the hunger that makes them what they are. “If you given something your complete passion and dedication, then it also calls for certain sacrifices. Day in and day out we just practise, study, live and breathe dance. There is a certain sense of symbiotic energy that exists between Bijayani and me and that shows on stage. All of us at Nrityagram have been around for quite sometime. This is my 23rd year at Nrityagram and Bijayani’s 19th year. We are sure about understanding each other as it comes from living together for so many years and you begin to start thinking alike. Yet we are also individual in the other sense. I think it’s also because we lasted here. Not everybody is lucky to have what we have and we consider that as a blessing. Sustenance requires certain amount of commitment,” elaborate Surupa.
A dancer is known to bare her soul on stage and that reflects in the alluring grace she possesses. “Who you are reflects in your dance. You work from the inside out and in these 23 years here, a great deal has changed. What I learnt here certainly reflects in what I do, and you learn to be careful about what you put in your system,” says Surupa making an interesting point about her growth as a dancer and as a person.
At Nrityagram, Surupa and Bijayani have constantly strived to create a unique system of training and this has come over several years of research and efforts. “The whole process of dance is moved from the outside to the inside. We’ve taken years to build the kind of training we have at Nrityagram. For me, it has been about cultivating a certain sense of silence, the sound of the body, the way you understand a movement which is very difficult to explain in words,” elaborates Surupa.
To their critics, Surupa says that she is happy that people at least have an opinion. There have been mixed reactions at times to their technique and choreography with some calling it too straight or not too lyrical. “I really don’t know if people really understand what they are talking about. I still don’t know what I’m doing but I do know that I do it to the best of my ability. We’ve never had too many constructs here and haven’t believed in putting things in a box. There is a strong foundation laid and you end up expressing yourself in your language,” says Surupa.
At Nrityagram, Surupa says that they have cultivated a definite style, quite evident to your eyes where dancers come from all over the world to the unique dance residency. “We’re not here to prove anything to anyone. We’ve travelled a great distance based on a certain model. It is a difficult place to last. It might seem perfect for anyone who watches us perform and might get excited about learning. What Bijayani and I envision is the need for another generation of dancers who would take this forward. But it is a different ballgame when you come to the institute. We literally drive each other crazy. I have the greatest respect and admiration for Bijayani. She is my biggest inspiration. We inspire each other and we have lived a life where we cannot afford to be complacent,” says Surupa.