My tryst with Dancing-1

Expression of thoughts has been the elementary step towards human progress. Successful communication is defined by the transmission of the human thought in its intended meaning to the listener. Semantics of communication have varied since time immemorial. Manual signs and body language have been the basic universal tools. If these tools are employed, the Tower of Babel can be consummated.

Art has always been an elegant tool of expression. Dance is such an art form which edifies refined sublime thoughts into divine emotions. The primitive tools of manual signs and body language get transcended into blissful movements in dance. 

A Divine Intervention

I have always been intrigued and inspired by the Indian ethos which have identified the divinity in dance forms and associated them with spiritual worship. Worship of Lord Siva as the dancing Lord Nataraja bears testimony to this association.

Lord Siva as Nataraja

According to the Hindu mythology, the Lord's rhythmic play is the source of all movement within the universe and  the purpose of His dance is to release the souls of all men from the snare of illusion. Ever since my childhood days I have been told about the stories of the Lord and accustomed to the "Arudra Dharshan" festival celebrated in the holy Margazhi(mid December to mid January) month of the Tamil Calendar. On the day of the festival, a sweet delicacy "Thiruvathirai Kali" is offered to the Lord and his divine dance is remembered through rituals. (Watch the Arudra Dharshan introduction here)

My primary source of inspiration has been this ritual and the beliefs of the cosmic dancing of the Lord.

The next inspiration on my tryst with dancing has been the Tamil(an Indian language) Novel "Sivagamiyin Sabatham" by the famous author Kalki. The author has a cult following among the avid historical fiction readers of Tamil. Among his famed literary works, this historical fiction has "Sivagami" the unparalleled danseuse in the court of Mahendra Varma Pallava(a 7th century South Indian ruler) as the protagonist. 

Front cover of the historical fiction "Sivagamiyin Sabatham"

The fiction spins a romantic drama around the famed Battle of Vatapi. The war is attributed to the vow of the danseuse. I had been living on the dream land described in this novel in my early teenage. The imaginary danseuse created a deep impression and love for dance in me.(To read a fair translation of this epic like novel, click here)

The final push 

I have always been chided by my mother for my reluctant attitude towards beginning any new activity. Her rebukes were justified given the delay I caused in enrolling into a dance course which I longed for. The final push came from the Richard Gere starer Hollywood drama "Shall we Dance?"

Richard Gere in "Shall We Dance"

The drama is based on a mid-aged lawyer's passion for dancing and his secret engagement in a dance class. He dreams and his attempt to achieve it ends in a fair success.

All these were the inspirations behind my passion for dance. Did I learn dance? Would tell about it in my next post.