Passion To Performance: Lessons From Bharatanatyam Arangetrams

A Debut Dance

In the first few weeks of 2024, I have had the pleasure of attending two Bharatnatyam arangetrams at the same venue in Singapore. The debut dance performances of these young women who dedicated their early years to the pursuit of a classical dance form such as Bharatnatyam left me mesmerized.

The first arangetram was by a colleague’s daughter, Aashka. At fourteen, she was the youngest in the cohort of students from her dance school who were deemed ready for a solo debut performance; the fact that this child had single-mindedly pursued her interest in classical dance from the age of five was in itself praiseworthy. 

A short video presentation tracking her progress as a little tot trying to keep up with her classmates and moving on to group performances at small and large gatherings showed her dedication to the art. In every frame she seemed thrilled to be on stage, happy to simply dance.

The second arangetram was by a college student, Tejashree, who had also pursued her love for dance for more than a dozen years. Her exquisitely crafted repertoire was complex and featured long pieces that required intricate footwork and a range of facial expressions. She didn’t miss a single beat and danced with so much heart and grace that not one person in the audience remained unmoved.

Perseverance and dedication

Although I am an avid reader and writing is my chosen form of creativity, I am in awe of those who choose performing arts as their medium of expression. Dance is particularly demanding.  It requires great skill, perseverance and stamina to prepare for a Bharatnatyam arangetram. 

The years spent practicing to get to this level of skill in classical dance are the same during which all children have to deal with escalating levels of academic pressure. Many children tend to give up on the arts as the school curriculum begins to take up several hours of the day. Yet, these young girls, and all others who’ve reached the stage of arangetrams, or similar levels of formal presentation in classical dance or their chosen art forms, have managed the divergent demands on their time to dedicate themselves to their craft. 

As an adult with grown kids and fewer distractions, I can personally vouch for the fact that often we tend to drop activities that not only provide health benefits but also open us to wonderful experiences. When I see these young people follow their passions so diligently, I feel humbled. 

How do some people manage their creative pursuits with multiple demands on their time while others give in? Is it divine grace that envelops and protects their dedication to the arts, and also blesses them with creativity? Or is it sheer grit, passion and dogged determination? I have grappled with this conundrum for a long time. 

It takes a team

As a spellbound member of the audience at the arangetrams, I admired the way every element was painstakingly put together – the accompanists, the musical instruments, the stage decor, costumes, make-up of the dancers, sound and lighting. While the roles of the Guru and the accompanists were paramount, the contribution of parents, well-wishers, volunteers and everyone else involved were undeniable. 

What makes an arangetram unique is the fact that it is not a professional dance show for which you can buy tickets. It is a personal invitation from someone you know, someone who knows that you appreciate the arts. When I occupy my seat, I am not looking to critique or find fault. I am there to give my blessings with a room full of people doing the same. It is a pleasure and an honor to witness a beautiful rite of passage for an artist who has blossomed and to provide support through our presence and good wishes.  

Making time for art that soothes the soul

It is easy to get carried away by the business of everyday life. So much of our energy is consumed by work, chores, OTT shows and other activities that fill our hours but do not soothe our souls. Simply making a living is never enough because being human requires connection to others and to something beyond us. 

Beyond the basics of survival

When we read literature or visit a museum or watch a performance, we are not merely consuming. We are reaching out, trying to look up and beyond the basics of survival. We are trying to connect.

As author David Brooks observes in his New York Times article, “How Art Creates Us”, “The hard sciences help us understand the natural world. The social sciences help us measure behavior patterns across populations. But culture and the liberal arts help us enter the subjective experience of particular people. We have the chance to move with them, experience the world a bit, the way they experience it.” 

When I sat spellbound in that auditorium, I could feel myself being transported into each of the pieces that were presented – Krishna’s antics, Narasimha’s aggression, Lakshmi’s compassion. The artists spoke through their bodies, through expressions and gestures. It didn’t require knowledge of the language or the lyrics of the accompanying songs; the music and the percussion were an integral part of the storytelling, the one thing that connected us all.
I have a small goal this year, to learn to move my body in a less inhibited way. I haven’t yet decided what format to choose – zumba, Bollywood dance or something else. The point is to learn to move. Since communication is more than just using words, I hope this foray into a new way of being positively influences my ability to express. I have no doubt about the truth of the words of dancer Martha Graham – “The body says what words cannot”.