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Posted by Megha on November 13, 2007 at 11:57:48:
In Reply to: Views on Promoting classical Arts posted by Sangeetha on November 10, 2007 at 23:22:23:
Namaste, I think this discussion holds good for all other artists too. Film makers, writers etc. They all go through the debate between easy gimmicks for audience creation and remaining true to their art and self. I think there is a place for both and each artist has to work to create their own audience to the best of their own abilities. I have clearly demarcated my work as Bharatanatyam, Neo Classical work and folk. I am not going to perform Bharatanatyam wherever I am called. But if someone is paying me and I need the money, I need to have some standard works ready for that presentation. But it may not be Bharatanatyam. The goal of the show will be to reach out to and elevate the audience using the strength of the technique and that is all. There may not be any spiritual bliss.
But yes, Bharatanatyam needs the atmosphere to be presented properly and if there are very few audience members - so be it. My personal goal is to reach out to those dance lovers. Period. Converting people without taste is beyond my personal reach but I will gladly help any community efforts.
Teaching children dance to preserve tradition is also easier said than done. If young students take to the Art, I will make all efforts to keep to tradition and hopefully they will keep the core work intact for posterity. But please note that the parents think they know all about dance also. Teachers are not spared from criticism and they have to be very strong to fend off parents who are in it for quick material success. Educating the parent of the child to see the light in Tradition is a HUGE task.
Further, there are parents who want to keep Art and Religion separate. What is wrong with that? Will you not help them?
If the Diwali program has uninterested restless people, I will do Diya dance not Bharatanatyam. If I do it well, hopefully it will reach the 5 people like you who are looking and they will come to my Bharatanatyam show.
Also, I wanted to encourage everyone to think from a lay audience perspective.
After a busy work week, people want to unwind and talk with their friends
in a social setting. If we expect them to have the attention of yoginis,
it is not going to happen. Better to figure out what we ourselves as dancers
are willing to offer the audience as entertainment value vs. serious art
bordering on spiritual practice and recognize that the serious audience
is scattered and very few by comparison. Acceptance is the first step.
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