Pune University’s Lalit Kala Kendra made a commendable effort to bring
together various voices in the dance field on the occasion of a two day
(Aug 27/28) seminar on Micro & Macro in Dance Writing. With senior
Bharatanatyam talent like Sucheta Chapekar’s guidance, Associate
Professor Parimal Phadke undertook a meaningful seminar. Gurus, critics,
editors and publishers, teachers, dancers and media honchos shared
their thoughts. As one who has traversed all three roles in last thirty
years (as critic of India's largest circulated English daily the Times
of India and later, columnist India Today) and then editing Rasamanjari
for 5 years and editing-publishing attendance, the dance
annual for 15 years, my views come from practical experience. It may
help budding dancers and journalists/critics, who wish to write on dance
with integrity and meaning.
Dancers first, since without them critics and dance editors and
publishers wouldn’t exist! In all humility, writers of all shades, ought
to accept this basic premise. Dancers learn an art form for many years,
then strive harder to reach where they wish to be, professionally. But
just because one learns dance it does not mean one becomes a dancer. Or a
professional. It takes a minimum of 20 years of consistent work/output
to become a known dancer of repute. Dance is a serious calling, beyond
being a profession or vocation. It needs stamina, will power and total
surrender, and above all, a real guru. There is a big difference between
a guru and a teacher, but more on that in my next
column.
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Parimal Phadke, Ashish Khokar, Sucheta Chapekar
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