More than 400 students, spread across 15 batches, performed over two days at the annual show of the Tanusree Shankar Dance Academy on October 5 and 6 at Rabindra Sadan. Besides the eclectic dance dramas, the students were also recognised through an awards ceremony as part of an event that has been a fixture on Kolkata’s cultural calendar since 1987. While Kathy Giles-Diaz, consul general at the US consulate in Kolkata, was the chief guest on the first day, former bureaucrat Jawhar Sircar was the chief guest on day two.
“The Academy’s annual programme is a joyous celebration of dance. A platform for all our students to take the stage and make it their own. Right from the preparatory class to the graduates, every year, each and every student undergoes this journey. The exercise brings us together as a family. And for us teachers, it’s a great feeling of achievement and satisfaction,” said Tanusree Shankar.
Kathy Giles-Diaz and (right) Jawhar Sircar were the chief guests on the two days of the event Tanusree Shankar Dance Academy; Amit Pramanik
As chief guests, both Giles-Diaz and Sircar emphasised the significant role of dance and cultural performance in bringing the community together, not only as a form of entertainment but also in terms of uplifting and improving society.
Intricately stylised choreography was the hallmark of every single performance, with clean visual lines and seamless synchronisation characterising the movements on stage. Some of the steps and stances were inspired by Manipuri Thang Ta. The baseline rhythms were complemented by the consistently colourful lighting on a plain cyclorama.
A confluence of themes, styles and influences
The choreography of Upakram was formulated by Tanusree Shankar herself
The first performance, Upakram (The Beginning), was accompanied by percussionists from the school of Tanmoy Bose and was performed by select students of the senior and advanced sections. It began with an invigorating incantation, “Om Gan Gan Gan Ganesha! Om Brahma Vishnu Maheshwara!” Utilising basic techniques of the dance form of the Uday Shankar style, the choreography of Upakram was formulated by Tanusree Shankar herself.
Abhudhyay, in parts, reflected the daily despair of our own lives and times
Abhyuday, a dance drama composed and performed by advanced graduates of the Academy, vacillated between dark foreboding doom, a world spewing hatred and violence, and a sense of awakening to the light of hope and positivity. Executed with panache and technical skill, it was reflective of the daily despair of our own lives and times. “Imagine a world where innocence is stolen, dreams shattered, futures forever altered… Somewhere, a man whispers, ‘Mother, I wasn’t born a terrorist.’ A world where children, once filled with laughter and hope, are forced to become instruments of destruction… With courage and resilience, they break free from the chains. They choose a path that leads to freedom, peace and a brighter future,” read the narrator.
Vasundhara shone the spotlight on the integrity of the natural world
Arguably the most thematically poignant offering of the event was the dance drama Vasundhara, about humankind's blatant disregard for the resilience of nature and its capacity to fight back. Next was Ashram, about burdensome school syllabi that make youngsters lose out on the simple but essential joys of childhood in the quest for all-round excellence. Through this dance by students of the prep section and the junior first year, the choreographers tried to envision a system where children not only learn their lessons amidst a serene environment but also fall in love with nature. Based on the music of Five Fingers, this performance was choreographed by Abhijit Mahato, Sujata Chaudhury and Tanusree Guha Roy Datta.
A testament to the dreams we put on hold but never forget
Atmavikash focused on channelling yoga to balance the mind and the body
Yoga forms an integral part of the Academy’s curriculum and every student is encouraged to take part in it to enhance their concentration. Yoga has also inspired its own dance form at the Academy, where hatha yoga is practised at a slow pace to build stability and balance of both mind and body. Choreographed by Ratan Jana and assisted by Joyita Pal and Chandrani Ghosh, the dance drama, Atmavikash, was set to the music of Ananda Shankar. It was presented by students of senior first year and graduates of the advanced section.
Journey brought together youngsters as passengers from different backgrounds
Ananda Shankar’s tune, suggestive of a train leaving a station and gradually picking up speed, inspired Journey, bringing together youngsters as passengers from diverse backgrounds. As long as they are aboard, they share a bond of unity, fraternity and camaraderie. Performed by the students of the transition section, the piece was choreographed by Abhijit Mahato, Sujata Chaudhury, Trisha Ghosh Chaudhury and Itu Nath.
Revival of Dreams celebrated the joys that spring from deep within
Another stirring performance that brought the curtain down on the event was Revival of Dreams, choreographed by Baishali Bhattacharya, Trisha Ghosh Chaudhury and Mitali Sinha. The participants were women from the ladies’ special class. These women, once tethered to the duties of family, the responsibilities of marriage and the demands of careers, glided carefree, guided by the joys that sprang from deep within. This dance drama was a testament to the dreams that we put on hold, but never forget.