Celebrate World Dance Day with Ramayana

WHAT's ON met Bharatnatyam dancer Shashikala Ravi, who will be performing in the city this Saturday

Danseuse Shashikala Ravi is an exponent of Bharanatyam, a trained Carnatic music vocalist as well as a teacher of Zoology. She will be performing on April 25, which marks World Dance Day. Her passion for the art form have been her driving force.

Tell us about your journey so far.
I always loved dancing and started learning the art form since I was eight. There was already a musical atmosphere at home with my mother being a classical vocalist herself. I learnt dance under Swarna Saraswathy of the Bharatnatyam Academy, Delhi, and started performing at the age of 10.

Could you tell us about some of your memorable experiences so far?
In January 2009, I performed a homage to the saint poet Thyagaraja in the city. It was well-attended and I really enjoyed the performance. Another performance that comes to mind was a lecture-cum-demonstration about "Abhinaya" at the Olympic Stadium in Greece. It was about how Abhinaya is the soul of Indian classical dance.

What will you be showcasing on Saturday?
I will be showcasing the Ramayana through Bharatnatyam and will be highlighting certain points, which will certainly touch the hearts of the audience here. I have six youngsters performing with me this Saturday.

What do you think is the opinion about classical dance among the youth of today?
Today, there are a number of young people under 20 who are taking a keen interest in learning classical dance.

How is the experience of performing in Pune?
Pune has a very receptive audience and I really enjoy performing here. It's easy to communicate with the audience here, because they grasp culture very well.

Tell us about the Israeli and Japanese connections in your career?
I had performed with a Manipuri dancer Suman Sarawgi in Pune. It was a fusion dance, which was filmed by Israeli TV. Also, my dance school was featured in the Japanese magazine "World Okeiko Report", which is a Japanese magazine for the youth.

Do you have any message for the youth of today?
I would tell them it is important that they should learn some classical art form as it imbibes discipline. This is what has kept me physically, mentally and spiritually fit. Today, we read about the restlessness of youth and I feel that this can really help them bring a balance to their lives.

At: Symbiosis Vishwa Bhavan, Senapati Bapat Road.
On: April 25, from 4.30 pm onwards.
Entry: Free