odissinilanjana

Dance Frenzy in Nashville

2011-10-19T10:23:00.000-07:00

Summer madness started with Rabindra Jayanti in May. After the harsh winter, summer was a blessing. Little did any of us know about Hurricane Irene! At RDM we got started with our busy rehearsal schedules, simply glad to be out of our winter clothes. On the eve of Rabindranath Tagore's 150th birth anniversary celebrations were held on a grand scale at Rutgers Universty. RDM performed at the day long festivities. It was an auspicious start to our dance season.
More shows were lined up in June. We went on to perform at the closing ceremony for Zalak dance festival. Rehearsals were in full swing in the summer heat. I was gripped by dance fever. RDM performed at Akhil Autism fundraiser and ended the season with NABC Banga Sammelan, Baltimore.
I continued with the superbly organized RBC in Nashville getting to perform as a solo artist at the prestigious opening night for Regional Bengali Conference. Being on stage prior to the legendary singer Kavita Krishnamurthy & current sensation Aneek Dhar was itself a great honor. I thanked my stars for being in a dance frenzy practically dancing every weekend. It was my best performance to date. Picture perfect in every sense.I am grateful to the organizers for having such faith in me,to the audience for appreciating me and to my Guru for giving me the strength to stay focussed.Nashville will always hold fond memories in my heart.

Pandal hopping this Puja

2011-10-19T09:24:00.000-07:00

As dance season 2011 draws to an end, I feel guilty at neglecting my blogs. This summer was as demanding as the past month of Durga Puja. In America puja spreads out over a month. People have plenty of opportunities to drive and go pandal hopping. My long desire of dancing in every puja of New Jersey came true. We started with Voorhees, South Jersey then danced at Plainfield, Central Jersey and finished with Jersey City. RDM Kids went to other puja pandals and Dusherra festival to cover all major celebrations in the state.
Meticulous planning & logistics was involved in performing continuously for 4 weekends. Changing costumes can prove to be an art but now we have mastered it. Keeping calm and having a prescence of mind is the key to appearing unfluttered specially if we have to go on stage before time. I am now very careful with taking my watch off in the car.You never know when the curtain goes up.
All the sweat & hardwork paid off as we capured the heart of the audience. The halls were jampacked as the crowd swayed to the beats of our ghungroos.It was homecoming for RDM.
The last show was at the university campus in PA. The love & enthusiasm of the students and faculty draws us to the campus.It feels like home. I can drive in any weather along the windy roads of the interstate. I performed dasabatar with Mitradi. Something very challenging since my friends were caught up with their own fasting challenge. This year Karva chauth clashed with Diwali fest. We finished dancing before the moon was out and my friends could break their fast.

Baltimore bound

2011-10-19T08:46:00.000-07:00

The fourth of July weekend is marked annually by the largest gathering of Bengalis in the world. Banga Sammelan is a mega event attended by Bengalis all over North America. The 3 day festival transforms any locale to Kolkata. 2005 was the first time I attended Banga Sammelan in New York City. I was too stressed out seeing people change sarees at every meal. To top it I climbed the Empire state building thinking I was beating the crowds. That was the day I learnt my lesson;never to do anything but dance on show day.Over the years I have perfected this balancing act of dancing, sightseeing and changing sarees.
Like Atlantic City,Inner harbour, Baltimore was transformed into another street of Kolkata with ladies displaying their beautiful sarees & glittering jewelry. We too joined the fashion parade all dolled up teasing one another,chatting non-stop in Bengali and browsing the Indian stores. To the delight of my family,I have now turned into an avid Bengali movie watcher. Meeting acclaimed director Sandeep Ray, actress Raima Sen, singers Alka Yagnik and Kumar Sanu was the highlight of our stay.I was glad to be in tune with the movie scene.
It was 2 days of non-stop fun. Hanging out with friends until the wee hours of morning,listening to Indian music and watching cultural shows. Luckily we were scheduled to perform in the afternoon. There was barely enough time to grab coffee & breakfast before the gruelling dance preparations started. The dances went well and the costume changes were perfectly timed.Performance over, once again we joined the crowd in our new sarees,getting into the spirit of the festival.
It was an ideal combination of dance & socializing.It felt like the last day of puja once the closing ceremony was over. Unless you attend these events you never realize the enthusiasm of the diaspora who put so much passion to keep a part of their culture alive.

RBC 2011 Nashville

2011-09-15T06:52:00.001-07:00

RBC 2011 Nashville, a photo by nilabanerjee on Flickr.

nilabanerjee's photostream

2011-07-24T13:45:00.001-07:00

nilabanerjee's photostream on Flickr.

http://myemail.constantcontact.com/Akhil-Autism-Foundation-Fundraiser-June-5th-2011.html?soid=1102390194687&aid=qhJs76Kv5M4

2011-05-22T05:20:00.000-07:00

http://myemail.constantcontact.com/Akhil-Autism-Foundation-Fundraiser-June-5th-2011.html?soid=1102390194687&aid=qhJs76Kv5M4

A trip down memory lane

2011-04-08T15:51:00.000-07:00

I always feel nostalgic during this time of the year. Couple of years back,I made that crucial call to Guru Mitra that changed my life forever. After waiting a lifetime I had to know if my dreams of pursuing Odissi would ever materialize? Or would I have to train to be an aerobics instructor(another of my crazy obsessions)?
I had never heard of anyone teaching adults classical dance. Mitra is a pioneer in that field. After years of teaching school kids, she had started training a few adults. I stuck around the adult & kid classes till my basics were perfected. I knew I was on the right track when my muscles ached. Mitra was the perfect guru for me, with her wealth of knowledge & never ending enthusiasm, she was determined never to let me give up. She always set the bar high, forcing me to dance under all circumstances & making me drive long distances, (to her disappointment I still cannot parallel park).
I learnt to dream big. I promised to train harder than anyone else to realize this dream of mine.
For years we had a mixed group of kids & adults performing all over New Jersey. But somewhere down the line, more & more adults started signing up till we formed RDM professionals in April 2010.It gives me immense happiness to see the girls so motivated.They literally keep me on my feet. I am grateful for getting such a great bunch of friends. Together we dream of many more successful shows.

Looking back at 2010

2010-11-19T13:14:00.000-08:00

RDM team had a super run this year. The Indian festivities are over as we get ready to embrace the holidays. In a month's span we did 4 shows before I squeezed in 2 lecture demonsrations. All of them were highly demanding. I had been the one wondering why there was such a lull after our mega Aug 1st show. God certainly heard my complaints. The test was my endurance to withstand the pressure of changing repertoire and gruelling rehearsels.I thrive on such challenges. Nothing makes me more happy than counting the number of shows we need to do.
I started learning dance to find a little joy in this alien land. Little did I know the call of stage grows on you. I love the groups where I can feel the vibes and energy of my team. Switching gears to do the solos is extremely challenging but once on stage everything else is forgotten-it's only the dancer and her audience.
Winter isn't a quiet sabbatical for us. We learn new pieces getting ready to hit the stage for summer. Most conferences and festivals are booked in July. August is the only time off before we get into the Puja frenzy.
This year I had the added excitement of 2 shows during Diwali. We presented a totally different repertoire at the ESU campus. We had a challenge to top our last years performance. It is always a joy to be at a college campus, feeling the buzz and enthusiasm of the students. The audience was spellbound by our stunning rendition of Bollywood classical songs. It was a departure from our all classical repertoire. A lot of thought and practice had gone into making our choreography novel and refreshing, yet true to our pure, classical Odissi technicalities. The Diwali dhamaka was there in our Bollywood beats.
One more show lined up for me in December at the prestigious Sruti event in Philadelphia, when I go back to performing timeless pieces from my Odissi repertoire. Then I too can get into the Christmas spirit. Let's hope the new year proves to be more successful and challenging than this one.

Gripped by Puja fever

2010-10-18T13:49:00.000-07:00

Being miles away from India, it's surprising how much enthusiasm Desis have for Indian festivities. New Jersey is a happening place at this time of the year. Durga Puja extends over 2 weekends at various venues. It's a challenge for us to do so many performances in a short time span.I have danced to all permutations and combinations. Doing shows back to back over the weekend or shows the same day at 2 different venues. What was the challenge in store this puja season?
Last weekend we were fresh from our 2 month hiatus making an appearance in North Jersey pada of ICC. This weekend we were in Delaware, then back to Central Jersey for Dashami. We had Mitra barely catching any sleep as she was accompanying a batch of kids to the Dusherra festival in Edison and then joining us for our dance at Kallol, New Jersey's biggest puja. None of us could go through that routine, so we skipped the Dusherra celebrations. Some brave folks still managed to squeeze in dandiya nights after all this crazy schedule. I was left postponing dandiya plans for the innumerable time.
We had returned late in the night from Delaware, barely eaten the next morning before putting on make-up and driving to our final show day. It's a miracle that my kids made it to tennis or had any lunch. We were on auto-pilot mode functioning like zombies. I had drawn a chart color co-ordinated detailing all stage position since we had different set of dancers all the 3 days. The crowd support and our Edison samosas kept us functioning. There were high expectations from our team, since memories of our performances at Banga Sammelan and George Street Playhouse Aug 1st was etched in people's minds. We never dreamt this final day would be such a test of physical and mental endurance before our home crowd.
All the hard work we had put in during the summer was paying off now as all of us could dance no matter what. Sleep or food didn't matter. If there was a committment we would do it and we would win the crowd. That's the spirit of RDM professionals.

Girls night out in Delaware

2010-10-18T12:41:00.000-07:00

Delaware was the surprise this season. We were excited to be going to a different neighborhood. The RDM team went in 2 cars, stopping at places to pick-up dancers en-route to Delaware. I-95 was notorious as ever; the traffic heading for a game in Philadelphia. Some of us had to do make-up & hair in the car.
It was a hilarious car ride. We knew that even though we had split up, all of us were practicing the same songs, since we could see heads and hands moving in unison in two different cars. Practically all of us drive nowdays with one hand on the steering, the other in a mudra. Facial expressions is practiced on all other drivers. Driving to a venue is always adventurous. It's the drive back later in the night which is awful. You feel so drained out that no amount of Dunkin Donuts works on the system, all you want to do is sleep.
The organizers had a killer dinner waiting for us. We were royally treated. Having always had a diet of samosas, Gatorade or energy bars this was a treat- something unexpected. We had to dance after eating the mithai and batura. Fo the Aug 1st show, we hadn't eaten anything the entire day. What a contrast? It's a bad idea to bring us food before our show but all that drive made us forget our usual discipline.
The dances went without a hitch. We had a different sequence here since Guru Mitra was dancing and some of our dancers were not there. All this had to be co-ordinated in less than a week. I did my solos and disappeared to help with the costume changes. Suddenly there was loud applause, I literally ran on to the stage to find my series of group dances starting. If I didn't enter at the right minute, the rest of the dancers would be stuck on stage.
It was a rare treat to watch our Guru dance. I never watch any dancer before I perform but I too couldn't let this moment go. I had to be there to understand the essence of the moment. Videos would never bring the same feelings in me. Her Bangla dances to Tagore's poetry were a big hit with the puja crowd. Standing in the wings we could learn first-hand how to emote & captivate the audience. Mitra's fast paced Odissi piece, Battu dedicated to Nataraja had us all spellbound by her complex footworks. We were charged up to do our pallavi. The pace and mood had been set by Mitra. We had to keep the momentum going.The audience equally appreciated the classical pieces and the Bangla songs. This was well worth the travel!
Show over, having wooed the Delaware folks we switched back to Mommy mode. I had made numerous calls before going on stage trying to fix my son's imaginary tummy ache but I knew it would disappear the second he reached his friends house. Still all of us were crazy worrying about dinner and bed time, none of us were in a mood to enjoy the puja festivities. Strangely, all we wanted to have was a regular Saturday night, reading to our kids and tucking them in bed. But we are dancers, this is our version of Girls night out.

Cruising along!

2010-09-11T08:36:00.000-07:00

A month's long break from dance was much anticipated by us. We envied those who went on vacations while we languished in the blistering summer heat. Going on a cruise was what I could think of all summer long. Even mundane things like doing grocery or cleaning seemed appleaing - a break from our back-breaking schedule.
We had decided not to communicate with each other for an entire month- a total hiatus from dance, when we would do all our catching up with friends & family. Little did anyone know that dance had become an addiction. We are incomplete without it. My system goes haywire, I churn out burnt dishes, I am miserable & restless all the time. A part of me is so dead, so joyless if I can't dance. I need to dance in order to live. It is what makes the dull, mundane routines of life a joy.
The Caribbean cruise did little to lift my spirits. The boat encountered choppy waters, I was restricted to yoga and running up & down the stairs. I cursed the mouth watering deserts, which I didn't have the heart to resist. My sense of discipline is much stronger if I have a show coming.
Looking at the dancing waves, I could only think of dance in my head. Putting my feet up & lounging on the deck chairs is not for me. However much I may have craved for it. I need to be on my feet- dancing & exercising till my bones ache.
Our month long break is over, Ganesh Chaturthi marked the resumption of classes. We were all eager to make a comeback. No complaints. We had had enough of a break. On a lighter note, my kids were only to happy to see me off to my dance class.

Jersey Girls down the shore

2010-08-10T16:02:00.000-07:00

Atlantic City has been my dream dance destination for over a decade. The newly built convention center hosted this years Banga Sammelan, a 3 day festivity that attracts thousands of Bengalis in North America.
We were over- stretching our limits by taking on this committment, a mere 3 weeks before our own show. All of us had reached a break-down point. The dances for Banga Sammelan were totally different from our show dances. An entirely new routine had to be mastered & perfected in a limited time span. We worked diligently, trying to keep our heads clear. Not an easy feat if you are doing 10 different dances in a month's time.
It was sheer will power that worked here. There was a point of insanity when you would practice your dance expressions at the gas station attendant or your mudras while driving. We had to focus 100% and be calm before the show. The new costumes lifted our spirits as did the beautiful stage lighting. Our New Jersey supporters turned up to cheer us on. The medley of dances went by fast. Hours & hours of excitement was over in a flash.
We were all set on having fun. We went beserk shopping for sarees & kurtis before wearing traditional Bengali sarees & participating in a fashion show. Our beaming, smiling faces showed our relief having gone through one big show. A days break was what we got before heading back home & rehearsing for our own show.

Look who is behind you? Lord Jagannath

2010-08-10T15:45:00.000-07:00

Dasabatar was a labor of love. We were lucky to get 10 different people to play the 10 avatars. For over 6 months we had been learning this challenging piece, trying to memorize every avatar. After mastering the traditional Jayadev slokas, we started learning the newly recorded version with narration. We were kept on the edge till the very end before each person got her avatar. I am amazed at my director's foresight in assigning a role suited to each dancers personality. I craved for Rama & was grateful to have the opportunity to enact him.
On the day of the show, we rehearsed for this opening act. When the curtains went up, all of us were in a calm, meditative state, absolutely enjoying the roles we had been assigned. That very morning, I had carried Jagannath in my car to the theatre. Turning back in the darkness of the hall, I found him seated behind me. That was a blessing! Having him in such close proximity, I knew the show would be fabulous. Dasabatar would be the talk of the town. Jagannath would bless me in my ashtapadi, Lalita labangalata, which I had learnt at his feet.
May he continue to bless & guide me forever!

Dancing with a star

2010-08-10T15:32:00.000-07:00

Since we couldn't have auditioned for a TV show, the best thing to happen was to get actress Indrani Haldar to dance with us in our version of Dancing with the Stars.She played the lead role of Chandalika in the Tagore dance drama. Working with such a well-established award winning star was quite a memorable experience for all of us.
Last 2 weeks, all the fun & games was over. No more Chinese take-outs or cooking group lunches. It was time to do our routine faultlessly. We were dancing in a contemporary style, different from Odissi. We all knew the routine in our sleep but the stage positionings were a challenge.
Every dance was drastically different in nature. One scene we were snooty, mean village girls, then we changed costumes and became happy, dancing maidens before turning into vodoo & black magic practitioners. With so many costume changes there was no time to think about the routine. All the sweat & pain of the rehearsels was helping now when we wre breezing through the routines.
The theatre was jam packed,there was not an empty seat. Our well-wishers had turned out in full force to support us. The beaming faces of our friends & family showed how much they appreciated our effort. Their applause & smile is still embedded in my mind.

Running high on dance

2010-08-10T07:16:00.000-07:00

This summer has been a gruelling test of endurance & stamina. Our long cherished dream of putting on a fabulous dance show on the occassion of the silver jubilee celebration of Guru Mitra's dance school came true.
We trained 5-6 days a week for over 2 months to look perfectly in sync with each other. Dance is all we dreamt about in this unbearable summer heat. Our trainers from Kolkata, Tapasda & Saheli grilled us the Indian way. Repeating again & again till we got it perfect. We trained morning & evening juggling family, jobs & household chores. Kudos to our families for putting up with us.
All of us forged a special bond with each other. This was our parallel family. Having meltdowns, sharing joys & disappointments together. Being the group co-ordinator I spent hours emailing & bonding with each person. We all drew from each other, focussed on pulling through with a positive team spirit. For many it was a return to dance after a long span of time. Getting such a break was good fortune but high pressure.
The last 10 days seemed never-ending for we were running high on adrenaline. Driving more than 2 hours & rehearsing in the theatre I returned at midnight to find my kids sleeping. It was a full time committment.
But it was all worth it. I know this was once in a lifetime experience.
I am fortunate to be a part of it and to foster this special friendship through the love of dance.

Bridging the gap

2010-04-06T12:48:00.000-07:00

With crazy unpredictable weather in the North-east, I was relieved to have 2 good days when I was scheduled to perform. Despite road closures and flood watch issued, I had people come in well before time. Hats off to them for being so enthusiastic about world culture. I strictly maintain my time schedule so things went on as planned.
Randolph library proved to be a breeze after Wayne. I didn't sweat over lugging all my heavy display items. I had good practice by now. The staff were amazingly tech savvy. I was on Facebook before the end of the evening.
The chairs were filled up but it was one eager eyed girl, who really made my day. It was hard to believe that a little child would be that interested in my talk. She attended the talk since her mom wanted her to learn about our Indian heritage. I am glad that I made an impact on her.
I never had predicted this response to my lectures. I am a performer,being on stage is what keeps me charged. Interacting and reaching out to the people in this manner is a different ballgame. I have performed scores of times in these towns at Indian community events but the mainstream never attends these Mini-Indian festivities. It is the same crowd I meet, so in a way it was very different catering to an audience, who wants a literary, intellectual approach to this art. I am enjoying the challenge and am happy that I am able to reach out to a wider network of people with the sole purpose of doing my dance and heritage proud.
This year Bridging the gap series covers libraries at Edison, Princeton and Cedar Crest Community, Pomptain Plains.

Khandita nayika on Valentines

2010-02-24T05:57:00.000-08:00

I am the perfect person to play the role of Khandita nayika, one of the ashtanayikas.With my globe trotting husband this is always a joke in my dance circle. Rather than sit and mop,this Valentine, I went to my dance class to complete my ashtapadi. The song is about travellers wives, who are grief struck by separation since they cannot enjoy the joyous beauty of nature. Mercifully with nasty snowstorms there isn't much to grief about.
Ashtapadis give me a lot of peace and happiness, which I can't really find anywhere else. I do love Lady Gaga and all the dancey technopop but when in turmoil, it's Jayadev whom I turn to. The ashtapadis transport me to my childhood when I was forbidden to learn them. I would watch them being performed time and again by my adi Guru's best dancers. I didn't understand their meaning but could certainly appreciate the beauty of the pieces. Unknowingly, I developed a deep rooted love for them.
I am blessed to be able to learn them finally from Guru Mitra, for whom these are her most precious gems. Like a typical Guru Shisya parampara,I have had to put in years with her, imbibing her style before she was ready to pass them on to me.
You have to love the ashtapadis in your heart, have a true yearning for them before you can learn them. I dream of the day when I too can pass on these rare jewels, more precious than any gold, diamond or designer clothes.

Vande Mataram

2010-01-19T06:30:00.000-08:00

The music genius A.R. Rehman has once again brought this song to our lips. He has made alive the sacrifice of millions, who died in our freedom struggle. Like a lot of folks, I knew the song by rote, but never connected with it until Rehman came along. Giving life to these beautiful, powerful words-connecting with an entire generation in his inimitable way.
We started working on this song 3 years back. Every year we changed our choreography, added different versions and made the song richer. Every singer brought his own emotions to the forefront in his rendition.
By the time Lata croones, "Ma tujhe salaam!" the audience is teary eyed and proud to be an Indian. Show after show, we have brought entire generations together, not only the IT guys but the seniors and the high schoolers.
When we did the closing act at Montclair State University, the kids cheered and sang Vande mataram, drowning the music. But we kept our beat, continued dancing as the energy was infectious- something magical, hard to describe.
Vande mataram has become the trademark choreography of Rhythms of dance and music. We have to squeeze it in even if it means another costume change. I have performed it a zillion times solo and in group- but the crowd response has always overwhelmed me.
Thank you Rehman for opening our eyes and heart to this gem!

Happy hour

2010-01-13T07:01:00.000-08:00

With all the chaos of the holidays, dance has taken a backseat. I have been aching to get back to my usual routine. Come Saturday, I cannot stay home. I have to dance, so I did some catching up in my Latin dance class. The new choreographies and fast steps deter many newcomers but there are always a faithful few. I count myself amongst this group.
Having taken that class for the last 3 years, even if I miss many lessons, I can still catch on. It's a challenge when you discover the steps are done in double speed or the music has changed completely. I keep calm and tell myself that I know the basics, it may look crazy but I need to break it down.
Instead of crosswords, piecing together this guy's choreography is my mind game combined with all the challenges of dance, dance revolution. With the catchy Latino music it's my happy hour, where I can transport myself to the Carribean beaches-never mind the sweaty gym clothes. The energy is so invogorating! You feel happy and that happiness radiates in your dance.

Pursuit of perfection

2010-01-05T08:14:00.000-08:00

It takes a lifetime to achieve some measure of perfection. Dance is no exception. I treat my dance learning as a lifelong journey. There is no end to mastering this art. Inspite of having performed the Odissi dance repertoire as a teenager, I had to learn all the basics from scratch. This was the condition if I were to switch gharanas. The subtle nuances were different, I was now seeing through the eyes of an adult. What I had retained was only my deep love for Odissi.
It took a lot of dedication and determination to mould myself in my Guru's style. In the past 6 years, I have never missed a lesson or been late. It has taken me months to master some steps.
I never do things half-heartedly. I always strive for perfection: be it my costumes, my stage make-up, my video or my dance. Everything is done with total passion.
When people ask how I manage to breeze through certain steps, I tell them to step into my shoes and show committment to your Guru-Guru shradha and ofcourse, work hard. There is no getting around that! I practice with all different age groups repeating the same choreography again and again. Unless, I have guests for dinner, I stay on while batches of students come and go.
I would have learnt faster had I stuck with private lessons but this group interaction has helped me develop better. Going for dance is my only break from the daily mundane routines. In the US you have many more household responsibilities. You have to feel happy and energetic to get through the week.
Dance is my elixer. I don't complain about the driving or the rehearsels, I am grateful to be able to pursue it with my mind, body and soul.

Santa's magic

2009-12-17T14:20:00.000-08:00

Christmas is around the corner. I wish I could be in my kids shoes once again believing in Santa's magic.
My DVD saga continues. If I thought scripting and shooting were the hardest part, I had no idea of post-production. My bad luck with professionals contines. It is about making a quick buck never mind how. I am fed up with their narrow vision and callous work ethics. With my penchant for perfection, I am back to my husband for technical support. For nearly a month now we have been getting into all aspects of video making. It's something we never imagined we would be doing. But circumstances forced us to. We have gone over every single frame countless times. Thanks to good technology and techno savviness, I bet we will give these so called professionals a run for their money. I am so mad at times that I vent my anger on the food. It's a miracle when the dinner turns out good.
The day I get to sell my DVD will be a long cherished dream come true. Meanwhile, I need to get my battery recharged by heading off to the dance class.

No turkey this Thanksgiving!

2009-11-28T18:42:00.000-08:00

For a while, I have been toying with the idea of making a dance instructional video. In the field of Odissi it would be something unique. This task proved to be quite a challenge. I had to get into the finer details of the dance as well as the technicalities of shooting. With Guru Mitra's blessings and encouragement, I knew I could achieve my dream.
For days I was heartbroken and demoralized as I couldn't find the same kind of joy and spontaneity in my indoor recordings with a hired crew as I typically feel when dancing on stage, so my husband decided to shoot the video himself. He went ahead and bought a new camcorder. I was only too happy. I knew it would take an endless amount of patience and hardwork to get everything perfect-just the way I had envisioned it.
This was going to turn out to be a different kind of Thanksgiving!
No laboring over the turkey or visiting our family, instead we would shoot the dance video. Starting on Thanksgiving day, we shot for 3 days on our patio. Nestled in the breathtakingly scenic Ramapo mountains of North Jersey, we probably have one of the most picturesque backyard. It took me a video to realize that.
Fall brings out a different kind of beauty, something very hard to describe. Devoid of any stress and tension, I could enjoy every moment of making this video. I must confess that we needed to do numerous takes in the cold, breezy weather. Being outdoors has its disadvantages, turning blue in the cold is one of them. We constantly had to take breaks.
I am not the kind to give up. I had to get this out of my system before I could get back to my gruelling dance rehearsels.
Finally finishing our shooting, I relaxed with the boys in the hot tub being thankful for having such a loving and supportive family. This is the true spirit of Thanksgiving.

Unforgettable

2009-11-20T05:25:00.000-08:00

"Do your best, pour your heart and soul into what you do. God will take care of the rest." These words of Guru Mitra echoes in my ears.
There is always a challenge for classical dance teachers to find new talent. The dynamics of a group are disturbed when teenagers leave to pursue other interests. Unlike other dance schools,who have multiple entries or large numbers of participants, we had to make do with a mixed group of 5 adults and teenagers. In the previous years, when we did the opening and closing acts for Zalak, there were many more high schoolers. The team was well balanced.
Would we be able to pull this of? Would we be able to leave a lasting impression on the judges and the audience?
It would be heartbreaking for all of us if we lost. It was the first time we were entering the Zalak dance competition. This dance was my personal favorite. We had always brought the house down with this routine. Conjuring up those happy memories, I tried to forget it was a competition, I lost myself to the music. It was one of my most spontaneous performances aptly captured by the Marathi Vishwa photographer. The combination of expressions, footworks, and imagery won us a deafening applause from the audience.
We were still not sure about winning. I realized that numbers doesn't matter. You can win with a small team. It is the confidence and technical skill of each dancer that counts. The judges were unanimous in their decision when announcing us the winners for Zalak 2009.
We had finally done it. We had won New Jersey's most prestigious dance competition. This was an unforgettable moment for Guru Mitra and Rhythms of dance and music. What a start to 2009!

How to do the the 3 bends of the body, S shaped tribhangi stance in the ancient Odissi classical dance style

2009-11-13T07:31:00.000-08:00

How to do the the 3 bends of the body, S shaped tribhangi stance in the ancient Odissi classical dance style

How to do square stance in Odissi classical dance style

2009-11-13T07:14:00.000-08:00

How to do square stance in Odissi classical dance style

How to do the ritual of Bhumi Pranam in Indian classical dance style of Odissi

2009-11-13T07:13:00.000-08:00

How to do the ritual of Bhumi Pranam in Indian classical dance style of Odissi

Portrait of a Dancer

2009-11-05T07:00:00.000-08:00

Last week I had a very different offer from my friend. Instead of dancing, she asked if I could pose as a dancer in her art class. I have always been fascinated by oils but never had the patience to dabble in that medium.
Believe me, it was a challenge for someone who cannot sit still.
The artists had to paint in the north lights of the studio. The session was to last for 3 hours. Reaching early in the morning,it was interesting to see so many people turn out, all waiting for me to pose. I thought of doing the seemingly easiest dance pose, never realizing my legs would kill me.
It was interesting to see how each one of them had a different perspective, very similar to the same song being choreographed differently. Starting with a rough sketch, they moved towards the finer details of expressions and eyes. The play of light and shadow made me look different to each one depending on where they were standing.
In dance, we too move from a rough choreography incorporating basic steps and poses to fine tuning our expressions and deleting unwanted sequences. The first sitting is the hardest when the idea is taking shape,there after everything else flows like an endless stream of motion.
Well, it was an eye opener! Until yesterday,I never thought what a wonderful invention the camera was. Both the artists and the models deserve credit for sitting through portrait sessions. Imagine this was the done thing for centuries! Next time, I go to an art gallery,I am going to remember to appreciate the model.

Dancer's gym mantra

2009-10-28T10:24:00.000-07:00

If you think dancing is enough you don't need to hit the gym, think twice.
I made that mistake once. 6 months sabbatical from the gym and it took me 18 months to get back in shape.Dance is a visual art. Besides being technically good,the dancer needs to be appealing, I constantly compare my old photos to check if I am putting on.
Dance tones the legs and arms but what about the abs? Nothing other than the dreadful crunches works. The odissi belt accentuates the waist.Unlike the saree, the dance attire isn't too flattering. Well,Protima Bedi with her perfect 10 figure popularized the dhoti style attire!
High intensity cardio like kickboxing, step and treadmill are excellent for stamina. 5 minutes on stage translates to 15 minutes of high cardio.Dance pieces like Battu and Dasabatar are killers.You have to work on building your stamina.
Weight training is good for bone density and muscle toning. I combine this cardio routine with yoga - vinayasa style. Yoga has increased my flexibility and calmed me.I don't have to hear Madonna to last through a weight class, I can exercise to softer instrumental music.
It's good to bring variety to your routine. A relaxing swim or latin dancing is what I do. Dancing in my own orbit and matching new choreography is so much fun. When I can dance in a carefree manner,it releases all the pressure of being on stage.I have been fortunate enough to train with one of the best Latin dancers of the state.
My mantra is eat right, exercise right but hit the gym anyway.

Jagannath calling

2009-10-28T07:55:00.000-07:00

On the eve of Vijay Dashami, 2007 I decided to check out the new temple in the nearby town of Wayne.During the course of my conversation, the President of the temple invited me to perform for Ekal Vidhyalaya Fundraiser.I was scheduled to perform that very evening for Kallol's Durga Puja.
If the timing was right, I knew I could handle both the events. Zee TV Chairman, Mr. Subhash Goyal was the guest of honor. Things were picture perfect! I finished my dance and went for a darshan. What a surprise! Lord Jagannath- the main deity of Odissi was in the temple hall. I knew I had his blessings.Elated, I drove to the next show in Central Jersey.
If I thought I was done, I was mistaken. The drama was not over.Driving back in the night, I was stuck with chronic toothache. Thank god! It was after the show. Next day, I went in for an emergency root canal.
Ever since, I have performed regularly for Rath yatra and other festivities at the Wayne temple.

Jagannath swami nayanpathagami bhavatu me

Jai Ho Longi!

2009-10-28T07:09:00.000-07:00

Going to the TV Asia studio in Edison was a spur of the moment decision. The weather gods usually don't cooperate on the days of my shows. We had been personally invited to the choreographers meet in Edison. There was no way we could back out.
Dressed traditionally, I drove with my guru Mitra to meet Longi Fernandez,the Bollywood choreographer of Jai ho fame.Longi was an amazing, down-to-earth personality, who won the crowd with his simplicity and ofcourse, his famed salsa.
We seeked his advice on how to balance traditional dance repertoire with new choreography. Speaking from his heart, Longi adviced us. Being classical dancers, we can't deviate from our core strength. We have to use our classical training to our best advantage, use our footwork, grace and bhava to enhance our dance. We must present our dance in a manner which appeals to an younger generation. There is no need to imitate other western dance styles or compromise on our classical technicalities. Ancient Indian dance has its own unique charm. We need to blend the old and the new.
We knew we were on the right track. Preserving the age old classical tradition is our mission but at the same time we need to incorporate new choreography, so that people are not overwhelmed by classical dance.
Jai ho Longi!

Farewell gift

2009-10-28T05:10:00.000-07:00

Singapore is my second home. I stayed for a brief period but it was one of the happiest periods of my life.Living in an ocean front condo and having a wonderful set of friends, life could't have been better.I was heartbroken at the thought of leaving everything behind.
As a farewell gift my friends got me a huge box. I was shellshocked at the size. Maybe it was a joke! They were probably trying to cheer me up. As I opened the package I saw a beautiful, bronze idol of Nataraja- the Lord of dance.I was in tears. I couldn't figure out why they had to make such an effort and scout Singapore to get me something Indian, when any paraphernalia from Chinatown would have made me happy.
Moving to our new home in New Jersey, I displayed the Nataraja very prominently in my living room. A few months later, I had this desire to pursue dance. I couldn't wait anymore! That's when I came across my Guru Mitra and resumed dancing.
There was a reason why Nataraja came into my life. Even if it means re-aligning my furniture, I practice in his prescence. My kids are contended to see me dancing while I am cooking or supervising their homework.
I am glad I am able to pass this love of Odissi to them. All thanks to my friends, who gave me the most perfect farewell gift- the Singapore Nataraja.

Learning to Count

2009-10-28T04:51:00.000-07:00

Rhythms of Dance and Music celebrated 20 years in 2007. Guru Mitra hired a world renowned choreographer to train us.
We spent over 2 months in a bootstyle dance camp- dancing from 10.00 to 5.00 every weekend.Many of us could be dancing in our sleep. Our choreographer was a hard taskmaster. Nothing short of perfect was acceptable. One mistake and everyone would have to repeat.No getting away with wrong footwork or mismatched coordination.He had his eyes on us at all times. That's when I learnt to count 100. We literally did the dances 100 times. I never again said, "I will practice it a 100 times."
I had finally learnt to count.
Our choreographer transformed our lives , our dance forever- all through hardwork and repeated practice. Each of us realized our true potential. There were no shortcuts. We had to push ourselves to the limit. Ever since, I have come a long way. I am a different person, a different dancer all thanks to our incredible choreographer who taught me the dancers math.

Second Chance

2009-10-27T08:17:00.000-07:00

As a child, I grew up in the posh locale of Defense Colony in Delhi. I could count the doyen of classical dance, Sonal Mansingh as my neighbour. I would wait for hours to catch a glimpse of her. As I started learning dance, I grew up watching Kiran Segal and Ranjana Gauhar perform. They were dancers famed for their beauty and impeccable Odissi. They were my idols.I never missed their shows.
I didn't watch hindi movies. They were not cool. No one in my school did that. I am glad I spent all those hours watching dance. Somewhere deep down in my subconscious I developed a love for Odissi.
Going to college, priorities changed. My dreams were forgotten.On the eve of my wedding, I did a program on the local TV network.The interviewer asked me if I would dance after marriage? How would I balance family and dance?
Without a moments hesitation, I replied, "I can juggle kids, home and dance. I love dancing and I am sure my family is going to be very supportive."
It took me years to get back to dancing. There was always heart ache if I were to watch Odissi. Moving to New Jersey, I had to find an answer to my restlessness. God gave me a second chance when I found Guru Mitra, the most amazing dance teacher, right in my neighborhood. She became my mentor and Didi as she took on the task of teaching me, and giving me hope every step of the way.I hope to follow in her footsteps and continue this guru shisya parampara.

Dancers guide to Edison

2009-10-27T07:48:00.000-07:00

If I were to resume dancing I had another challenge-the hour long drive to Somerset.Every Saturday morning, I would dread the drive. But I was made of sterner stuff. Before long, I was the driving maniac on route 287. Soon I was exploring New Brunswick and Princeton for shows and rehearsals.
I started getting restless on the weekends. I was missing my drive. Edison was one hot spot I hadn't been to. I had only been to rehearsals and eaten the mouth watering samosas of Oaktree road.
In a desperate search for dry cleaners I came across City Cleaners at Sugartree Plaza. They saved me the pain of lugging my dance outfits to India. I do over 12 shows a year. You can well imagine my desperation!
Another time, I had broken a tikli which is worn in the hair. I had only one piece and needed to fix it before my next show. In less than 20 minutes, my jeweler at Corals and Beads Gallery got it done. Of course, I had been their valuable customer, picking up beads during that time span.
For my dance photo shoot, I chanced to come across Precious Video Memories. It was sheer coincidence! Making use of the free public car parking on Middlesex road, I happened to spot this studio. It's been a great find, since they specialize in dance coverage.
All these sojourns haven't been purely dance related. I have squeezed in quality shopping time. Having been away from India for so many years, Edison is truly Little India for me.I can fulfill my chat cravings and shopping sprees at one destination.
I am looking forward to performing at the Edison public library next spring.

Gypsy girl in Times Square

2009-10-27T07:08:00.000-07:00

Banga Sammelan 2005 was a landmark event of my life. The convention was held at the prestigious Madison Square Garden.I was new to my Guru's team, new to the country. On the morning of the show I couldn't pass the chance to visit the ultimate tourist destination - Empire State building. I went with my kids to NYC's landmark attraction, never realizing how deceptive lines can get. We barely made it back by noon.
Being on a high adrenalin rush, I dashed off to the New Yorker for my costume change. Madison Square Garden was a different ballgame. Something so iconic that you cannot help being overwhelmed.
The dance was over in a blink of an eye. This was one place where you never wanted to stop dancing. The lighting and stage were so mesmerizing.
I dashed out in a skirt without bothering to remove my stage makeup. Everyone was making plans for their last night in the city. I was elated having performed at my dream venue. Walking through Times Square, a stranger found his ideal target. He waved a snake at me. I bet it was a fake one. I didn't scream. I had to give it back to this prankster. Gathering my wits, I smiled and told him I am use to snakes. Can't he see that I am a gypsy girl?
Had it been Jersey I am sure I would have freaked out. New York fills you with such a de-ja-vu that it feels like a different world.

Breathless Nilanjana

2009-10-27T04:37:00.000-07:00

We tried experimenting with a new song- breathless. The lyrics were hauntingly beautiful and so was the soulful rendition of the song. The challenge for us was to dance to this in our own inimitable Odissi style.
5 days were left before our show in Philadelphia Kali Puja, 2008. All other dances had been rehearsed. Only my solo was a last minute addition - a shocker. Would I be able to pull this off?
We worked on the choreography on Monday and I practiced day and night for the next 4 days. I could not pass this opportunity, the yearning to try something new. The other dances went on without a hitch. My solo was up. I told myself it didn't matter there were not that many people. They had seen my best dances, a 2 minute dance wouldn't make much of a difference. With that attitude I breezed through the song with confidence. Knowing fully well that confidence is the key to a performance.
The audience loved the song. It became the highlight of the show. I knew in my heart it wasn't my best. I confess we have rechoreographed it since then and done it to our satisfaction.
Never in a million years would I have guessed that TV Asia televised this entire dance on their special show, Dance Gurus which ran a feature on Guru Mitra. All the folks in Jersey congratulated "Breathless Nilanjana" on her success.
You don't know who is watching your show. A select few may make more of a difference than a packed hall.

Poolside rehearsal

2009-10-26T16:24:00.000-07:00

Travelling to Atlanta for Bangamela was a sweet experience.I am forever stuck with long commuting hours. Atlanta was no different! The cab ride to Gwinnett center was an hour long. I could only breathe easy on seeing the signs for the Holiday Inn.
The venue was breathtakingly beautiful, away from the hustle bustle of the city.
The boys went crazy seeing the hotel pool. I took advantage of the situation and plugged in my newly bought discman. Ofcourse, it wouldn't work well. The disc kept getting stuck. I had to practice my dance routine. I didn't care where. It was a mega convention attended by over 800 people. I was one of the very few solo performers.
So I started rehearsing my steps by the poolside, letting my kids splash in the water.
The next day my first grader wrote a sweet note saying, "I hope you did a good dance, mom."
I didn't let him down! I do not know what overtook me. I was lost in the music and could literally feel the power of the songs in my native tongue, Bengali. It turned to be my best performance till date.

There is never a dull moment

2009-10-26T10:40:00.000-07:00

On the occassion of Kali puja hosted by NJPA in Monmouth Junction there was never a dull moment. Backroom action was enough to match the stage performances. The show started at 8.00 in the evening, that is way after my regular dinnertime. Since I don't eat before dancing, it was quite an ordeal to see others dig into their food. After waiting forever in my attire and commuting for over an hour with an oversized mirror, there had to be a good reason for me to dance.
After the opening act, I had a minute to change for my solo and wear my bells. In all the confusion, one of my props went missing. The music started. I looked at my guru Mitra and knew I had to improvise. I followed my heart and focussed on my expressions. This song was very dear to me. It's the dance we performed at Madison Square Garden 2005, Banga Sammelan. I had to do justice to my guru's faith in me.
Well, the drama continued. We had to go for costume changes in a span of 7 minutes.
6 dancers and one mirror. We had to do it. No time to fight over the mirror.
I had another challenging solo followed by a group. I had learnt my lesson. I clutched my prop this time. We kept up our spirits and danced our hearts out.It was one of my best performances.
The applause still echoes in my ears. This feeling of love and support from the community is what makes us go on with the hope that we have to top this next time.

No coffee needed!

2009-10-26T10:02:00.000-07:00

I had a lecture demonstration at the Bergenfield public library on the 29th of September. The show was to start at 10.30 in the morning.It was a weekday, the kids had school. Being in the US you are forced to take on the super mom challenge.
I started getting into my traditional dance outfit at 6.30, something unthinkable for me. I had to be done with the dress and elaborate makeup in an hour before dropping off the kids to school. If that was not enough, the hour long commute on Route 80 heading towards GW bridge was surely going to be a killer.
My car was loaded with all kinds of props. I literally needed a shopping cart to unload. Well, guess what-more than 50 enthusiastic patrons turned up with their steaming cup of coffee waiting for their morning entertainment. Seeing so much enthusiasm in the crowd, I was charged up to make it a memorable session for all of us. I didn't need my morning coffee that day, the crowd gave me the adrenalin rush.
All I want is to be able to dance and never stop. The hours don't matter. I am ready whenever the curtains go up.

The show must go on

2009-10-26T09:25:00.000-07:00

The weather gods showed no mercy on Saturday,the 24 th of October. We were booked for a show celebrating the Diwali festival at the East Stroudsburg University, Pa, across the border of NJ. Nestled in the scenic Poconos, Delwater gap is my favorite fall destination. This time it was the worst day to be on the road with pounding rain and fallen trees. Nevertheless, we had a committment, the publicity was done, seats were sold out. Come rain or storm we had to go.

Maybe it's god's will that we went and danced before the multicultural faculty and students of the university. For many it was their first Odissi performance. We tried forgetting about the weather and instead concentrated on our theme- the welcoming colors of spring, something so appropriate in that panoramic settings of the mountains. It was a rare treat to dance along with our guru and mentor, Mitra Purkayastha. I was inspired to drown out the noise of the storm and go with the flow of music.
It turned out to be one of my best performances. I had a feeling of peace and tranquility as I performed my favorite pieces. This feeling of sheer joy and blissfulness - satchit ananad is what we Odissi dancers try to share with our audience.