Where Protima's dreams live......

Mankind has often sought in his quest for happiness; the creation of inner purity and true wisdom. And, in this unparalleled reflection of sanity and culture lies the sanctum of solitude. Hence, it comes as no surprise that art has often played a fundamental role in nourishing the evolutionary leap towards a greater understanding of life and humanity. With all its complexities and integrated heritage; classical art forms have aided humanity in spiritual guidance for centuries. The renaissance of Indian classical dance not only brought forth a seamless blend of variation in movements and expression; but also explored themes ranging from questioning perspectives to individuality. As we celebrate Odissi danseuse Protima Gouri's thirteenth death anniversary this month; we delve into the unchartered realm of dance, music and a greater consciousness with Nrityagram.

At Nrityagram, dance is a way of life, a matter of faith and belief, nurtured and enriched by the souls of its own people. As echoes of raaga, taala and rhythm reverberate in air; rustic elegance of the landscape revives one's mind, body and soul. The warm hues of stone sculptures embedded in earth exude sheer poetry. Founded in 1990, Nrityagram offers a sliver of ancient tradition and wisdom. The strains of melody floating in air are accentuated with purity and innocence by all the dancers at the Odissi Gurukul. This enchanting sanctuary of dance is devoted to the preservation and popularisation of the traditional dance forms of India.

Protima Gauri (October 12, 1948 to August 18, 1998) once said,"I dream of building a community of dancers in a forsaken place amidst nature. A place where nothing exists, except dance. A place where you breathe, eat, sleep, dream, talk, imagine -- dance. A place where all the five senses can be refined to perfection. A place where dancers drop negative qualities such as jealousy, small-mindedness, greed and malice to embrace their colleagues as sisters and support each other in their journey towards becoming dancers of merit. A place called Nrityagram." And, that is precisely how one would define their journey with this institute. Imbibing a holistic approach that seeks to create free thinkers and complete human beings; Nrityagram weaves threads of belief, enlightenment and implicit refinement. Gaurima’s ideologies and vision of creating and nurturing an idyllic dance village are brought to life everyday here.

Being an abode of peace, calm and tranquility; each and every living entity embraces the liveliness and beauty of harmony at Nrityagram. A glimpse of Odissi performed by Bijayini Satpathy (Odissi director Gurukul), Surupa Sen (artistic director) and Pavithra Reddy (soloist) passionately reveals a whole new dimension in the realm of dance. Portraying compliance, wrath and love with sensuous movements and gestures; each of these dancers resonates with the true expression of humankind. Aside from being a liberating experience; the synchronisation of physical and mental forms pulsating in tandem unleashes a certain sense of harmony.

"We conduct a special pooja on Gaurima’s death anniversary. Students and gurus honour her memory and vision with various dance performances. Apart from imparting dance education, through Nrityagram, Protima wished to shelter seven classical dance forms of India under one umbrella. And in order to achieve that, she strenuously sought to bring maestros from all over the country to this humble dwelling. Well, this place demands both physical and mental endurance. After a certain point, it was extremely difficult for most of the gurus to continue. Today, we concentrate on one dance form - Odissi. Protima Gauri was a visionary. She may have not been one of the most technically sound dancers but she was a spectacular performer. With no fear of being judged; she delivered an immaculate sense of vibration and energy with every routine. She literally owned the stage with each performance. Silence was her greatest virtue. She was undoubtedly an incarnation of courage, passion and love. At Nrityagram we follow a Gurukul tradition and believe in self sustained survival. And, in order to promote this philosophy, we encourage independent thinking and responsibility amongst all dancers. In fact, we even grow our own food here," said Lynne Fernandez, Managing Trustee.

Based on the ancient dance treatise of Natyashastra, Odissi is characterised by intricate lyrical movements and graceful gestures. The aesthetics of this particular dance form revolve around solitary grace and sophistication. Channelling energies through their mind and body; each dancer allows dance to consume them. Sensuousness in Odissi is a true revelation in itself.

"Well, dancing no doubt is a spiritually uplifting experience. The whole idea behind this particular art form is to go beyond and transport oneself to a bigger realm. These dancers (Bijayini, Surupa and Pavithra) have made that intrinsic connection with one another. Watching them transform into one organism and perform with utmost sincerity is a humbling experience for all. We also wish to revive Vasantahabba which is considered the 'Woodstock' of classical dance and music in India (in 2012). Living legends and leading artistes congregate together, under one sky, to make this fest unforgettable. Both urban dwellers and villagers are offered an insightful journey with Indian music and dance from dusk to dawn. The power of classical Indian art lies within us. And, through this fest, we have been able to move each and every individual (both old and young) with Indian culture. Vasantahabba is indeed a celebration of integrity and oneness. Apart from this festival, we also plan to strengthen further residencies and events at our Arts Lab. We have had the privilege of organising Sangam House recently where writers, poets and thinkers shared their writings and ideologies with everyone. It was a confluence of all art forms. Mahesh Dattani too has written a couple of plays here. We are constantly striving to bridge all gaps and welcome all art forms," she further added.

Amidst wilderness, armed with dreams; one woman's vision led to an entire movement of privileged thinkers and philosophers. Each of these dancers embody the grace and spirit of passion; ushering in an inspiring new era of Indian classical art.