Indian classical dances become a rage abroad

Who says interest in Indian classical dances is on the decline? They are in fact reinventing themselves and spreading across boundaries. From Poland to France, Belgium, Mexico, Japan, South Korea and Romania, the list is endless where Kathak, Bharatnatyam, Odissi are becoming popular.

"Indian classical dance is very popular in Tokyo. It is about one's inner self unlike western dances," says Masako Ono from Japan who has been learning Odissi since 1996 in India.

Sharon Lowen who hails from USA has been in India for the past 33 years and has mastered Manipuri, Odissi and Chau dance forms. "Art comes from the heart. It does not depend on techonlogy as much as we do," Lowen says.

An exemplary artist devoted to Indian dance is Isabelle Anna from France who started training in Bharatnatyam at the age of five. Her parents started Indian cultural centre in France even before she was born. "Here people are interested in west. There, I grew up watching Indian dances," she says.

Giving an insight into the popularity of Bharatnatyam in France, Anna says, "its quite popular there. Lots of French artists learn Bharat Natyam and people can even tell you the mistakes when you perform. But I found my calling in Kathak after learning Bharatnatyam for 15 long years."

"They are creditable. I make it a point not to miss any of the performances of Indian arts by the foreign artists in the capital," says a keen Indian artist Prabhawati Phadke, now in her early 80s.

These foreign artists are most touched by the 'Guru-Shishya Parampara' of learning. "It is a wonderful experience to learn in the Guru-Shishya way," says Hollving Argaez Pizana who gave his first performance of Sitar in the capital recently. "Indian music is an ocean. In west there are only microtones," he adds.

"Indian art is not inborn in these foreign artists. But the devotional sincerity with which they learn is commendable," says Indian tabla player Deboshish Ashilkari who accompanies Pizana in his performances.

Some of the foreign artists even prefer to explore some new areas of work where they try to mingle foreign art into the Indian dance. "People in India ask me to show something of Japan. So I present contemporary pieces in which I give glimpses of the place where I come from," says Masako Ono from Japan, an Odissi dancer.

"Though I will continue with Odissi just because I love it. But I want to collaborate with other foreign artist to come up with something more contemporary," Ono says.

The foreign artists do shows all over the globe and are thus making Indian art go places with its popularity. "Indian dance is famous all over. Often I have performed in South Korea and gained much appreciation," says Kim Eun Jung who has been learning Kathak for past eight years in India.

Phillipe Falisse, a Belgian, has learnt Dhrupad for 30 years and has given performances in France, Italy, Belgium and Bangladesh.

Many are also able to relate to their culture through Indian arts. "There is similarity between Kathak and Korean dance. Both are based on natural movements of the body," says Jung. Falisse finds similarity between Dhrupad and church music.

"Presentation of Indian arts by foreigners reflects how they interpret our culture," says deputy director general Monica Mohta of Indian Council for Cultural Relations, who recently held a festival of Indian classical dance and music by foreign artists.

In order to get involved in the ambience of the source of Indian arts most have even taken classes in Hindi language.

Jung from South Korea has learnt Hindi for one year. Falisse has studied Bengali literature from Kolkata University and is also fluent in Hindi. Ono, who even has a degree in Indo-Pak, says that she took lessons in Hindi.

"It is a nice way of spreading Indian art and culture across countries," says an Odissi dancer Ranjana Gauhar.

These foreign artists not only have fallen in love with the Indian arts and language but also with the country itself. "If Indian government allows, I want to stay here forever," Jung says.

"I had an year's scholarship for it in India, but have been extending it for past five years and I want to continue for another five years," says Ana.

It is not much surprising then that Falisse has been in India for last 38 years and Lowen for 33 years.

Bureau Report