A dance form Bengalis can call their own
A dance form Bengalis can call their own
Sharmila Banerjee
In the contemporary Bengali society, the admiration for dance that is prevalent has been possible because of Rabindranath Tagore. He established an institution for dance education and produced remarkable dance dramas. He made arrangements to teach classical dance forms to the students at the Ashram in Shantinikatan. Gradually, a unique dance form developed, incorporating different types of taal (rhythm) and bhava (expression). Tagore did not follow any specific dance form. Yet in his compositions we find an amazing fusion of folk, classical and foreign dance forms. Refined aesthetic sense and composure in the compositions are noticeable traits in the dance form developed and nurtured by Tagore. Rabindanath Tagore had a 'Baul' in himself, which is manifested in his songs and dances. During a trip to Sylhet, he was highly impressed by the Manipuri dance, indigenous to that region. He could easily relate to the subtle, tender movements, the simplicity of the rhythms, and the clarity in its expressions. He brought along with him two Manipuri dance teachers from Sylhet to Shantiniketan to train the students. This move also contributed significantly in developing a dance form Bengalis can call their own. Among the classical dance forms, Tagore gave much importance to Manipuri for its delicate, feminine movements and Kathakali for its bold, vigorous and masculine movements. He also used other classical dance styles like Odissi, Bharatanatyam and Kathak in his dance dramas. In the dance dramas, much importance was given to the mood and the rhythm of the accompanying songs. Tagore believed that in many cases overuse of complex gestures to literally interpret the song hampers the mood of the dance. In Shantiniketan, Tagore used the traditional Garba dance with the help of Gujrati students. The bold Sri Lankan Candy dance form as well as traditional dance styles of Java and Bali Islands were used in his compositions with the help of the students from those countries. Rabindranath loved nature and did not like anything that seemed even remotely artificial. That affinity is apparent in the costumes, use of colours and jewellery made of flowers, used in the compositions. He also introduced the Batik scarves, common in Java and Bali, in his dances. During Tagore's lifetime, under his supervision, the dance style that has been established through the performances by the students of Shantiniketan can therefore be called Rabindra Nrityadhara, which we can call our dance, the dance of the Bengalis. The writer is a renowned dancer and choreographer
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