Life Lessons Through Choreography

As I have written in my earlier post, my friend, who is a Kathak exponent, organised a Baithak at her residence where her students performed an hour long dance recital choreographed by them.

Excerpts of their performance is attached below in a three  part video.

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Kathak is an Indian classical dance form.

Choreography is not only a part of dance skill  but also a lesson in life skill. I was intrigued by the whole process and wanted  to know

I Why is Choreography important ?

(I give briefly the answer patiently and elaborately given by my friend)

Choreography teaches

(1) Body awareness (right posture and movement)

(2) Core consciousness (listening to the stillness within viz-a-viz the spatial vastness around)

(2) Interdisciplinary approach (interweaving music and rhythm through understanding and appreciation of their rich language and intricate nuances)

(3) Technicalities of presentation (proper utilisation of space/stage, light, costume, makeup)

(4) Team spirit (respect/collate varied creative inputs of the group, ideate, brainstorm, reach a consensus on structurization of the final performance)

(5) Aesthetics in performance (outreach and audience appeal)

II What life skills does Choreography teach?

(1) Spirit of collaboration

(2) Coordination and cooperation

(3) Core connection

(4) Micro and macro management

(5) Exploration of/drawing inspiration from available resources (of the creative geniuses)

(6) Realisation and nurturing of inner potential

(7) Exposure to and assimilation of divergent viewpoints

(8) Engagement in a transformative process enriching body, mind and soul

Like any other group activity, group performance requires team effort and team spirit. In order to reach out the performer has to reach within first. Listening is a very important tool for learning.  As the movements have to be choreographed in consonance with music the performers have to first absorb the essence of the musical piece. Next is how does a performer want to reach out to the audience. What message does the performer wish to convey and why.

While choreographing, a performer relies on various creative inspirations – the enormous artistic heritage of the maestros ,  own life experiences and/or contemporary themes around. Needless to say, like any other presentation, a stage performance is an exercise in people as well as administrative management.

Choreography is a process of refinement. Refining involves identifying and nurturing  the creative spark within – a transformative undertaking which not only chisels the performer but also the individual into an evolved being.

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Indian classical art form is based on guru shishya parampara (teacher-disciple tradition) and entails strict routine, discipline and rigorous training and practice. Immersing in such creative activity facilitates development and grooming of the overall personality of the student. It also acts as a channel of emotional ventilation , energy orientation, overcoming personal inhibitions, flowering of latent potentials and building up and strengthening interpersonal relations.

Also, dance has immense health benefits. For a dancer it is the best form of exercise which tones the body, strengthens the muscles, keeps the mind agile and spirits high and nourishes the soul.

The skills that children learn through choreography are beneficial not only for their immediate curriculum but also in the wider spectrum of their professional as well as personal lives ahead where they have to deal with/function within complex social and professional patterns and units , maintain health,  harmony and originality , deliver qualitative results without compromising on single-minded focus, core competencies, meaningful relationships and meticulous attention to details.

A little about Kathak

Kathak is one of the eight major classical dance forms of India originating with the travelling bards of ancient Northern India  known as Kathakaar or storyteller, who communicated kathaas or stories from the Hindu epics through dance, songs, and music.

Kathak’s emphasis is on rhythmic footwork and movements harmonized to music and especially  rhythm. The vocabulary is based on fluid gestures of arms and upper body , facial expressions, neck,  eyes and eyebrow movements alongwith long and elaborate bends and turns and piroettes.

A little about Sushmita Ghosh

About Aakriti Foundation