Getting opportunities in the dance field to showcase your talent or getting paid is definitely difficult, let's not lose hope, take it slow and continue to train yourself every single day.
I am a Bharatanatyam Dancer, teacher, choreographer, yoga trainer and the artistic director of Shivansh school of arts. I completed my engineering in the year 2016 from NIE, Mysore. Worked in the corporate for 2 years and then quit my job to take up dance full time.
I have been training in Bharatanatyam from the past 17 years, I graduated from Attakkalari, Bangalore with a diploma in movement arts and mixed media. During the course, I was trained in Contemporary, Kalaripayattu, Chauu, and Ballet. I presently live in Hyderabad and have my Institute in Suncity, Bandlaguda.
2. When did you first decide you wanted to pursue dancing and how did you start?
I stepped into the floor of dance at the age of 5 and then took up professional training in Bharatanatyam at the age of 8. From then on dance class has been my second home.
2. When did you first decide you wanted to pursue dancing and how did you start?
I stepped into the floor of dance at the age of 5 and then took up professional training in Bharatanatyam at the age of 8. From then on dance class has been my second home.
Quitting my 9 to 5 job to pursue dance full time happened in the year 2018. Taking up dance as a career was definitely in my mind for a long time because I felt that's where I felt connected more.
3. Who is your favourite dancer/choreographer and why?
I do not have a single favourite, to name a few I admire Dr Janaki Rangarajan, Parshwanath Upadhye, Mayuri Upadhya, Vishwa Kiran Nambi and Bijayini Satpathy. They all inspire me in many ways.
3. Who is your favourite dancer/choreographer and why?
I do not have a single favourite, to name a few I admire Dr Janaki Rangarajan, Parshwanath Upadhye, Mayuri Upadhya, Vishwa Kiran Nambi and Bijayini Satpathy. They all inspire me in many ways.
Watching each of them dance makes me fall in love with dance all over again. Each of them is unique in their own style and form and this inspires me to find the unique quality in me.
4. Can you throw some light on opportunities one gets as a Choreographer?
As a choreographer, one could do choreographies for art festivals, for movies or for their own dance productions.
5. Is formal training required or can one train themselves purely on the basis of talent?
In classical dance, I would say initial training under a Guru/teacher is a must as that lays the foundation for the dancer in that form. After learning for a few years and understanding the form well, the dancer has the option of practising it themselves.
4. Can you throw some light on opportunities one gets as a Choreographer?
As a choreographer, one could do choreographies for art festivals, for movies or for their own dance productions.
5. Is formal training required or can one train themselves purely on the basis of talent?
In classical dance, I would say initial training under a Guru/teacher is a must as that lays the foundation for the dancer in that form. After learning for a few years and understanding the form well, the dancer has the option of practising it themselves.
Teachers or Guru's in classical forms are like the sculptors who sculpt the dancer and make them look beautiful and strong. So yes initial training is required.
6. What piece of advice would you like to give to future and aspiring artists?
All jobs are difficult, nothing is a cakewalk. But if you love the job you are doing you wouldn't feel the pressure. Getting opportunities in the dance field to showcase your talent or getting paid is definitely difficult, let's not lose hope, take it slow and continue to train yourself every single day.
6. What piece of advice would you like to give to future and aspiring artists?
All jobs are difficult, nothing is a cakewalk. But if you love the job you are doing you wouldn't feel the pressure. Getting opportunities in the dance field to showcase your talent or getting paid is definitely difficult, let's not lose hope, take it slow and continue to train yourself every single day.
Learn from your peers, and learn from your mistake. Compete with yourself and work hard.
7. Which is your favourite book and why?
Any book which gives me a different view of our Indian mythology would be my favourite. Like The palace of illusion by Chitra Banerjee, Rama Chandra series by Amish. I love to hear and read different perspective and thoughts about the same story, also these stories help us (the 21st century) relate to our mythology better.
- Maithri Rao (Dancer, Choreographer, Yoga Trainer)
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/maithrirao.m/?hl=en
Interviewed By Tuhina Rana
7. Which is your favourite book and why?
Any book which gives me a different view of our Indian mythology would be my favourite. Like The palace of illusion by Chitra Banerjee, Rama Chandra series by Amish. I love to hear and read different perspective and thoughts about the same story, also these stories help us (the 21st century) relate to our mythology better.
- Maithri Rao (Dancer, Choreographer, Yoga Trainer)
Interviewed By Tuhina Rana
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