Home to varied dance forms, the sub-continent has rich cultural inheritance embedded in dance, an age-old form of expression

In dance, motion acts as a medium of non-verbal communication conveying a creative sequence, inspired by thought, colour, idiom, tune or contextual issues.

While classical dance styles, still capture the interest of the conventional lot, the modern generation which sometimes fails to appreciate the nuances of traditional dances, is happy exploring contemporary or modern dance. And, this dance form has undoubtedly acted as a catalyst for the renaissance of interest in Indian dance.

Contemporary dance is a diverse umbrella, not codified in detail, which allows incorporation of different dance styles. The Indian contemporary dance in particular, is a hybrid that blends the varied traditional and contemporary dance forms. It is influenced by pop culture, with textures from classical dance, giving it scope for eclectic movements. 

Mayuri Upadhya, from Nrityarutya says, “Movement style doesn't define contemporary dance, but it is the treatment to the art form that defines it.” The dance vocabulary in this form, communicates contemporary issues related to feminism, sexuality, crisis and more. 

And to Mayuri, Indian contemporary dance is an extension of her roots and an indigenous presentation that reflects the current India and its ideologies. Jayachandra Palazhy, Artistic Director Attakkalari Centre of Movement Arts believes, that contemporary art of any kind helps individuals comprehend contemporary reality and cope better with the transitory nature of life. He says, “Contemporary dance depicts experiences, memories and imagination located in current time, just like contemporary art or cinema. And this, in turn, aids in better understanding of reality.” 

“Contemporary dance requires one to be versatile and one's body needs exposure to different techniques,” says Mayuri. In addition, many pieces of choreography also infuse martial arts which lend greater vigour and variety to this artistic expression. Body conditioning for flexibility and agility, thus becomes imperative for this form of dance, which blends different genres and techniques. 

So, step into the realm of contemporary dance and explore this inter-disciplinary and creative dance form that has no boundaries, and also creates awareness about important contemporary issues at the same time.

Shruti Gotuham/ DNA-Daily News & Analysis Source: 3D Syndication