Ridicules Faced by the ‘Male Indian Classical Dancer’
[vc_row enable_arrows_animation=”no” css=”.vc_custom_1589256858252{padding-bottom: 5% !important;}”][vc_column][vc_column_text]
Straight talk by AMRUTHA RAKESH
[/vc_column_text][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner][vc_column_text]
Indian Sounds & Steps is happy to bring to you an outspoken piece by Amrutha Rakesh, 21, who is known in the dance community as ‘Nartaki Amrutha’. Having completed her junior and senior Bharatanatyam examinations, she is presently pursuing her Master’s in this dance form.
[/vc_column_text][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row enable_arrows_animation=”no”][vc_column width=”1/2″][vc_single_image image=”11222″ img_size=”375×500″][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/2″][vc_column_text]Her journey as a dance instructor began at 16, when she started training kids in western, classical and folk dance forms. Eventually, she started training children in government schools and orphanages. She has performed classical dance on various prominent platforms, including for organizations such as the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) as part of the celebrations of Mars Orbiter Mission (MOM) satellite; and the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) Conference conducted by foreign delegates; Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL); and for shows and competitions conducted by the Ramana Maharshi Centre for Learning (RMCL); among others. She has also performed prolifically in temple festivals.
Her ambition is to educate people about the importance of talent over appearance, train as many unprivileged kids as possible, and to work hard to communicate the language of Bharatanatyam even to a non-dancer.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row enable_arrows_animation=”no” css=”.vc_custom_1589257966016{padding-top: 5% !important;}”][vc_column]
Flawlessly coiffed with eyes elegantly smudged with Kajal, shimmering lips, well-tailored costume and an indefinable air of dignity, he walks gracefully towards the stage for his Bharatanatyam dance performance
A wave of laughter filled with ridicule, begins to echo in every corner of the hall.
“Look at the Hijra!”
“LOL I thought Bharatanatyam was only for girls!”
[/vc_column_text][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner css=”.vc_custom_1597371461968{padding-bottom: 40px !important;}”][vc_column_text]
Music starts playing.
The sound of his Ghungroo takes over.
To onlookers, he is now poetry in motion.
Boy, what a performer!
The audience makes noise again.
But this time, it’s a thundering applause.
Their lips arch, sans the mockery. They are awed by his performance.
[/vc_column_text][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner][vc_column_text]Brilliant male performers often become a butt of all jokes. People take a jibe at their feminine, graceful movements that can be observed in their activities other than dance.
It is the same with female performers.
He is man enough to pull it off with confidence; but are you man enough to accept that? He can look handsome in pink; but are you willing to put up with that?
Girls can be tomboys; boys can be feminine. So, let us all put an end to bullying. It’s 2020!
A big shoutout to my friend and male-classical-dancer Karthik Gowda, who faced and overcame this ignominy, and came up trumps with dignity and grace – thanks to his steadfastness and belief in his art. He had the courage and focus to achieve this, in spite of being a male from the ‘Gowda’ community that the society usually associates with strength, masculinity and power.
Karthik used to be bullied for being soft in his movements. But not anymore. He did it, so can any other male classical dancer – by exhibiting a similar resolve.
[/vc_column_text][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row enable_arrows_animation=”no”][vc_column]
You may reach Amrutha Rakesh on nartaki.amrutha@gmail.com or connect with her on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.
Did you like this article? We will be thrilled to get your feedback at support@indiansoundsandteps.com
[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]