Over the last few years yet another trend in the art of Bharatanatyam
has emerged, to add to the growing list of (disturbing) trends - THE
MENTOR.
Quite a few youngish dancers announce at the outset of their performances, "With respects to my gurus AND my mentor." When this happened at a recent performance, the lady in the seat next to me (in thick Tamizh English accent) asked: “Who is mental?”
Me: “Not mental, madam! Mentor!”
Lady: “Now what is this mentor?"
Me: "Someone you go to after the guru."
Lady: "Appadiya? There is a level after the guru?"
Me: “Yes, the gurus are level 3, followed by level 4, famous dancers.”
A mentor? What does that entail, and how is it different from the Bharatanatyam guru?
Read the article in the site
Quite a few youngish dancers announce at the outset of their performances, "With respects to my gurus AND my mentor." When this happened at a recent performance, the lady in the seat next to me (in thick Tamizh English accent) asked: “Who is mental?”
Me: “Not mental, madam! Mentor!”
Lady: “Now what is this mentor?"
Me: "Someone you go to after the guru."
Lady: "Appadiya? There is a level after the guru?"
Me: “Yes, the gurus are level 3, followed by level 4, famous dancers.”
A mentor? What does that entail, and how is it different from the Bharatanatyam guru?
Read the article in the site
I would like to bring light to the concept of Guru & Mentor. A mentor is a friendly guide and teacher, but a Guru is the influence & encompasses the vision & mission of the student’s dance. While the Late Rukmini Devi could have been my Guru, and the mentor status goes to the teacher Athai woulfd gave deployed based on my needs & level. Its harder when you mice away from your Guru, there would be many mentors, and in-fact each choreographic piece of the repertoire could have a mentor! Thank you for bringing this topic. And a big thanks to all our mentors and gurus!
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