As a tutor, I have come across students of various backgrounds and learning experiences throughout the globe, and I have found that practice and performance awareness must be understood by all students. On an average of the enquiries I get, around 62 percent of students have previous experience in learning Bharatanatyam. But more often than not, I have seen students with very less understanding of the form, sometimes not even being able to align in araimandi/ardha mandali even after 10+ years of training. The important aspect is to take into account the sense of awareness of movement, body and techniques in presentation and performance. Students often confuse their familiarity into the logic of dance with their ability to present/perform. There is of course a definite advantage if you have previously learnt at an institution doing in person classes, however for adults restarting the art form, it is necessary to understand that consistent efforts are needed to familiarise oneself with the nuances. Performance coaching especially must be understood as a process that involves consistent practice to build stamina and movement confidence.
Sharing some tips for dancers who intend to step on stage :
- Think of yourself as a person who is delivering a speech. Your dance is the medium that you have chosen to connect with your audience non verbally.You have the responsibility to use your art to powerfully communicate and connect with people. This will help you use your intelligence in Nritta to make your presentation interesting.
- Your choreography/ or your Guru’s should be something that you have revisited atleast 10-15 times repetitively before you have found yourself ready to bring the presentation to a room full of people. Count your efforts. It is only the practice and commitment that will give you movement confidence.
- Connect with Music and the context of your performance. Be very sensitive to changes in music and develop a keen sense of curiosity towards the rhythm to find and connect with different layers within the scope of the composition.
- Build a spatial and dimensional sense as a dancer , understand how the length of the stage, whether being upstage or downstage impacts the choreography and if it hinders you from being able to give your best. If you work in a group setting, make sure that you completely understand the ensemble’s vision in order to cooperate and deliver your best.
- Do not make your presentation very personal to you that you fail to see the interaction and experience of Rasanubhava that you essentially want to help the audience achieve. Knowing and mastering techniques of Abhinaya that are innate to you and that familiarly reflects the intentions of the choreography is necessary in a performance art like Bharatanatyam.
Do not confuse a smile with your ability to convey different emotions. It’s the versatility that will help you build yourself as a dancer.