Popular tools like reels as well as dance-catering video apps have detrimental effects on the integrity and sanctity of classical dance forms, say performing artists. In a candid interview with Dhaka Tribune, Bangladeshi classical dancer Mandira Dhar, a student of Bharatnatyam in New Delhi expressed dismay over the pervasive influence of reels and dance-based video platforms, attributing their proliferation to a decline in the art's traditional values.
"Dance has great aesthetic taste, but this easy availability is ruining the art form," remarked Dhar. She elaborated on the shift in audience behavior, noting a trend towards passive consumption akin to viewing movies, rather than actively participating in the live experience.
The proliferation of easily accessible dance content has led to an influx of amateur performers, lacking the rigorous training and dedication synonymous with classical dance. Dhar emphasized the importance of discipline and devotion in honing one's craft, lamenting the dilution of expression and the erosion of cultural taste.
Reels and dancing apps have pros and cons. The trendy cheap things, masquerading as art-form is a threat to the artists because technology can’t produce artists, remarked Kabbya Konica, a classical dancer pursuing Bachelors of Fine Arts in Rabindra Bharati University, Kolkata.
"The expression lacks taste," Mandira Dhar while chatting with Dhaka Tribune in New Delhi asserted, highlighting the immense devotion and emotional depths inherent in classical dance. Dhar, who was trained by Bharatnatyam dancer Amirul Islam Hiru and Kathhak dancer Shibli Mohammed while in Dhaka, underscored the significance of dance as a form of penance, requiring unwavering commitment and reverence for tradition.
Konica and Dhar both are recipients of a fellowship offered by Indian Council of Cultural Relations to pursue their dream.
In the wake of the digital revolution, Dhar warned of a cultural degradation, where the nuanced rhythms and intricate movements of classical dance risk being overshadowed by the allure of instant fame and mass consumption. The two Bangladeshi dancers one from New Delhi and the other from Kolkata urged for a reevaluation of societal values and a reaffirmation of the intrinsic worth of art in its purest form.
