Tuesday, March 11, 2014

Take a Shot at it

2 months since my last blogpost. Its been long and eventful I must say. Since the time I'v begun blogging (or calling myself a blogger), I feel like its important to live a more blog-worthy life. Its like the need to add twists and turns like in a soap opera. But I think I'll keep away from the amnesia and plastic surgery scenes for a while ;)

2014 started on a great note. I was a part of an Odissi dance team and we travelled and performed in Vizag (Vishakapatnam), India. Needless to say, I had an absolutely fantastic time. The experience was the first of its kind for me in so many ways. To begin with i'v never before had a chance to brag about travelling for a performance. Made me feel like a hoity-toity film star!


The dance festival was organized for indian classical dancers living and performing outside India. We expected to meet lots of indian dancer like ourselves, who connect to their culture through their dances. What we didn't expect were Russian, Iranian and Kazakh dancers drawn to India by their sheer love for indian classical dance. How madly in love should you be to be able to let go of everything and just live for dance? Their comfort with everything indian left me amazed. Believe me,  it confuses the hell out of you when you see a russian girl sing a Shloka with the same familiarity that she would sing "Jingle Bells".

 (Clockwise from top) Eleonora Ukhanova  and her daughter from Russia during their Bharatnatyam Performance;  ; Naznin Baygani from Iran performed Odissi ; Kasiet Adilkhanova from Kazakhstan
'Follow you dream and success will follow you'

Such a cliché. We've all heard it too many times. But is it really that easy to let go. The lure of a regular income always lurks in the corner. My respect for performing artist of any kind goes up twofold everytime I think of it. In a world where people are so quick to judge and ridicule, putting yourself out there is one of the hardest things to do. Everyone needs gratification for their work but what assures the appreciation. When I look at art that has transcended the life of its artist, I always wonder if the artist knew this would happen.

Jayadeva is a poet who lived in the 12th century. His lyrical genius, 'The Gitagovinda' has taught me how to imagine, how to understand, how to express and how to exist. Did he as an artist, at anytime, predict that his art carries this power?

I'm glad they made a choice that inspires people like me. And kudos to every artist who has mustered the courage to pave their own path. 


So keep dancing, painting, singing, writing and creating in any way you can. All in all...keep the right brain alive :)