How has the coronavirus pandemic transformed the art of dance?

International Dance Day is celebrated every year on April 29. On this day, dancers rejoice through concerts, dance recitals, and other forms of stage performances all around the world. However, due to the coronavirus pandemic, all celebrations have been cancelled this year. In such circumstances, dancers are celebrating this day in a different way. 

All cultural programmes in the country were cancelled from March 17. "I last performed on the celebration of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman's birth centenary. Sadly, all live performances were suspended and we only recorded some videos for television for that day," shares renowned Bharatanatyam dancer Zuairiyah Mouli, who currently works with Shadhona. "After a while, things started to change for us, and we decided to switch to online activities."

Shadhona celebrated Pohela Boishakh by releasing their performance, 'Bakshobondhi Boisakh' on their official Facebook page and YouTube channel. "While we are trying to stay in touch with dance in these tough times, we have also come to realise how unstable our statuses are as artistes," adds Mouli.  

Every dancer has to stay fit and healthy in order to maintain their consistency, poise, and form. "I had to do an intense month-long dance workshop under the leadership of Akram Khan, as a part of our Mujib Barsha performance. Akram Khan is someone I have looked up to since I first saw him at the age of 13. For me, it was an amazing experience," says prominent Bharatanatyam dancer Mehraj Haque Tushar. "This time has given me the break that I needed after such an intense month. However, isolation has made it difficult for most of us to stay fit. Nevertheless, I exercise two hours every day, one hour in the morning and the other before going to bed."

The dancer community is still working hard to adapt to this shift. "International Dance Day is very special to us and I miss how we used to prepare for this day for weeks," mentions Manipuri exponent Sudeshna Swayamprabha Tathoi. "On the other hand,\Manipuri maestro Bimbavati Devi gave us a Manipuri Bol and asked us to choreograph our own routine on it. I choreographed my piece based on the different practices that will help us to stay safe during this pandemic. Later, I released it as a video for my students and fans on my YouTube channel, alongside another video performance which I recorded as a tribute to Ravi Shankar on his 100th birthday." 

Summer is usually the peak season for most performers, especially dancers. However, this year, things have not been easy for those who rely on stage performances. "Three of my performances, two in Bangladesh and one in Odisha, were cancelled due to the COVID-19 outbreak," states acclaimed Kathak dancer Hasan Ishtiaque Imran. "On the other hand, I now have time to spend with my family, which would not have been the case, because I was supposed to be in India right now."

While social distancing has been frustrating for many, the shutdown has managed to bring the dancer community closer. "Everything has both positive and negative sides. If we consider the positive effects of this situation, as dancers, we are always very busy with our training, classes, performances and fitness, which makes it difficult for us to stay connected with our gurus and friends. However, now, through social media, I have reconnected with friends that I have not spoken to for years," asserts celebrated Odissi dancer Alka Das Pranti. "I also believe that as artistes, we should be connected to other forms of art, such as music and literature, as it helps us to draw inspiration and broaden our cultural knowledge. Being at home has helped me to have more time for myself and experience things other than dancing, such as reading books and listening to music.

Dance teaching has taken up a new face due to this mishap. "Being inspired from western dance styles such as ballet and jazz, my dance form requires me to be very flexible, and have high stamina and energy. As a result, maintaining my fitness has been one of my prime concerns these days," says contemporary dancer Tahnun Ahmedy, who is also a dance teacher at Asian University for Women. "I am conducting all my classes online at the moment, so that my students also stay fit and keep practicing. I also regularly upload video tutorials on my Facebook page, Rhythmos, and later ask my students to record their performances so that I can provide them with feedback."

While economic fall is one challenge that has surfaced for dancers, mental wellbeing and motivation is also a concern for most. "Being a stage performer, I am not an expert on making YouTube videos but I still try to be as active as possible on social media. This way, I can prevent my students and peers from getting discouraged," shares prominent Bharatanaytam dancer Arthy Ahmed who also serves as the Director of Strategy and Marketing at Shadhona. "I recently made a video, titled '10 things to do at home for dancers', and another one on basic meditation.  Both of these are available on my YouTube channel."

With all these shifts in effect, it is evident that dancers are trying their best to stay connected to their craft, hoping for a better tomorrow.