Nikkita Banawalikar - Dance for Sure Comes Naturally to Someone, but You Need Consistent Training Under a Gurus Guidance (Classical Dancer)

A disciplined approach is important to anything in life. I was very consistent with my riyaaz and balanced it well with studies with the only intention of becoming a better artist and not to make a career. Making a career In art especially classical dance is a very slow process and I still have to see how it shapes.

1. Tell us more about your background and journey.

I was initiated into learning dance from a very young age of 5yrs. My mother put me into a nearby Bharatnatyam class because she always wanted to learn and thereby fulfilled her dream by making me learn the classical dance form and that's how the journey began.

I have no art background in my family. I was continuing Bharatnatyam when I watched kathak and just fell in love with the form and started learning in the same institute later I went ahead with proper training under Dr. Manjiri Deo where I completed my Visharad from Gandharva Mahavidhyalaya. 

With the intention to learn more in the form I went to Padma Bhushan Kumudini lakhia jis Kadamb center for dance Ahmedabad to train further and lately my CCRT scholarship was under Guru Shama Bhate ji in Pune. I had a disciplined environment at home and academic education was always given due importance. I completed my Master's in Performing arts along with Masters in Commerce and MBA in HR. I was never interested in a 9-5 job and my hobby became my profession.

2. When did you first decide you wanted to pursue dancing and how did you start?

It was never planned I didn't have a clue that dance can also be a career as I had no one to guide me about it. I suppose it true when legends use to say that u don't choose the art form, the art form chooses you. I started taking baby steps when it came to practice specifically speaking Riyaaz. 

A disciplined approach is important to anything in life. I was very consistent with my riyaaz and balanced it well with studies with only the intention of becoming a better artist and not to make a career. Making a career In art, especially classical dance is a very slow process and I still have to see how it shapes.

3. Who is your favorite dancer and why?

I can't name one specifically. I am largely inspired by Aditi Mangaldas ji, Late Pt. Durga lal ji, Pandita Shama bhate Aram Khan sir ,Rama Vaidyanathan ji, Sujata Mohapatra ji to name a few. 

Not only the legends but even established dancers like Gauri Diwakar, Dheerendra Tiwari, Piyush Chauhan, Preeti Sharma everyone is so inspiring in their own way. I am an ardent follower of ballet. 

I admire the dancers who have maintained their own style and not driven away by trend. I look forward to watching them always because of the authentic yet contemporary approach that they have brought into dance.

4. Can you throw some light on opportunities one gets as a dancer?

For me being a dancer my first and the most prominent place is the stage so performing is what comes to my mind the first. Now people can get into choreography, start assisting choreographers, join dance companies as performers. 

After training well you can start teaching. With the growth of social media new opportunities are seen coming up. Editing, production, artist management a lot of dimensions are now seen.

5. Is formal training required or can one train themselves purely on the basis of talent?

Being a classical dancer what I can speak about is just the classical arts. This question of calling yourself a classical dancer solely on basis of talent doesn't exist. Classical dance needs hardcore training of min 7 years under a proper Guru/teacher. 

Self-learning is now a day coming up but it definitely will not give results as to what we get training under a well-learned teacher. Dance for sure comes naturally to someone but u need consistent training under a gurus guidance and this learning is a never-ending process.

6. What piece of advice would you like to give to future and aspiring artists?

Be a student for life" just follow this never stop learning. There are so many inspiring artists who make it a point to go for performances, watch them, and get inspired. Secondly do not blindly copy. Deriving inspiration from an artist and just copying his or her style are two different things. Keep on learning and growing and be true to yourself. And don't judge an artist on the basis of social media followers. Art goes beyond that. Be true to your art form and don't dilute it for the sake of publicity.

7. Which is your favorite book and why?

I am a huge fan of Chitra Banerjee and loved the Palace of Illusions. I feel just what dance does to me her books touch my heart and I can paint a picture right in front of my eyes. I am looking forward to reading more books from some more writers.

Nikkita Banawalikar | Classical Dancer

Interviewed By: Nishad Kinhikar