In a multicultural country like Malaysia, diversity and inclusivity of various cultures is undoubtedly our greatest strength.
While Malaysians take pride in our local delicacies like the recently crowned best bread in the world— roti canai,nasi lemak, and laksa (sorry Singaporeans, they're definitely better here), we also celebrate the beauty of performing arts from various cultures which has proven to bridge the communities in the country.
That's why it's not a surprise to see Malaysians learning traditional dances beyond their ethnicities. For instance, there are many talented non-Indian Bharatanatyam dancers who have made waves in the local and international performing scene.
In this article, we will review the journey of learning Bharatanatyam as a non-Indian, talk about several amazing and established Bharatanatyam Malaysian performers as well and highlight the future career prospects as a Bharatanatyam dancer.
Challenges That You Might Face As A Non-Indian Bharatanatyam Dancer
First, let's talk about the challenges that you may encounter as a non-Indian while learning Bharatanatyam. Do bear in mind, that these serve as a starter pack to unlock certain myths of learning Bharatanatyam.
Through the following discussions, we hope you will know how to navigate your learning journey more effectively in the long run.
Challenge 1: Differences of culture, language and religion
Originating from Tamil Naidu, Bharatanatyam is the oldest classical Indian dance that revolves around spirituality and the Hindu religion.
Of course, the songs used during the Bharatanatyam are mostly in Sanskrit and the lyrics usually contain elements of worshipping Hindu Gods.
However, this does not stop dance enthusiasts from mastering this dance. Former ASWARA (Akademi Seni Budaya dan Warisan Kebangsaan) graduates, Imran Syafiq Mohd Affandi and Kimberly Yap shared their initial worries initially.
At first, they were a bit worried as to how to share the news with their parents before their final performances (the Arangetram) because certain choreographies do contain several bowing choreography.
They shared that their parents were initially concerned that their original faith would be impacted during their course of learning.
Imran added that it's important to assure family and friends that his act of dancing Bharatanatyam is merely an artistic expression while respecting the history behind the dance.
Source: The Sun Daily
Challenge 2: Considered a "niche" and specialised dance to learn
As Bharatanatyam is a dance that is naturally associated with the Indian community, you could feel that it's too complex to learn on your own.
The truth is, Bharatanatyam lessons are easily accessible these days. It's certainly not an exclusive dance that you can learn in temples or through certain tutors.
You don't have to worry if you plan to learn Bharatanatyam from scratch. As long as you consistently start from the beginner level, intermediate level to the advanced level.
There are many dancing academies that offer Bharatanatyam classes for all kinds of students, regardless of their ethnicities, age groups and learning levels.
In fact, there are also contemporary Bharatanatyam lessons that you can explore too.
Don't forget to make the best out of various learning resources and tips as you master the art of Bharatanatyam.
How To Find An Affordable An Experienced Bharatanatyam Tutor Near You?
You can always start earning Bharatanatyam at different dancing classes near you, be it through group lessons or private lessons.
Maybe some of you would feel a little unfamiliar and shy if you were the only non-Indian in a Bharatanatyam class.
Perhaps, you can start with a private tutoring lesson in the comfort of your own home or at your tutor's home. You can also look out for dancing academies that offer Bharatanatyam lessons in a private dancing studio.
In fact, the two dancers that were mentioned in the previous point, Imran and Kimberly are certified and qualified Bharatanatyam instructors at their dancing studio.
If you are interested in finding a Bharatanatyam private tutor, you can head to Superprof Malaysia to kickstart your learning journey.
At Superprof, you not only get to have a personalised learning experience, but you can also decide on the maximum budget of the hourly rate of the lessons before you decide to hire the tutor.
With the systematic filtering options, you can pre-set your maximum budget beforehand (for example: RM50 an hour), and the platform will automatically direct you to the profiles of tutors that offer their lessons within this range.
Also, you can also check out the performing experiences of the Bharatanatyam private tutors and read the reviews by their past students to get a glimpse of how their lesson is conducted.
Don't forget to keep reviewing the basics of Bharatanatyam (both theory and practical knowledge) to improve progressively.
Famous Non-Indian Bharatanatyam Dancers In Malaysia
Now that you have reviewed the potential challenges that you could face and the ways to overcome them, it's time to look at the real-life experiences of the non-Indian Bharatanatyam dancers in Malaysia.
Let's turn the spotlight to the ladies first.
Fatin Nadhirah Rahmat
A passionate dancer who started dancing at the age of 7, Fatin pursued her tertiary education in dance as she completed her diploma in Dance, followed by a Bachelor of Dance (Honours) with a major in performance at ASWARA.
She mentioned that her lecturers in ASWARA had kindly explained to her that she is free to skip any dance rituals that are religious in nature and focus more on artistic expression. As she learnt the dance, she developed a newfound appreciation towards the culture behind the dance.
She performed her Arangetram at the Shantanand Auditorium, Temple of Fine Arts in Kuala Lumpur on June 24 this year.
Currently, she is a performer at ASK Dance Company, The Malaysian Dance Centre in Ampang.
Mohd Yunus Ismail
Another proud graduate from ASWARA, Yunus majored in Bharatanatyam and was awarded the Best Dance Graduate in 2010.
He is a seasoned performer and dedicated choreographer in many local and international productions.
He has also won many awards for his performances over the years. One of them was winning the Best Choreographer Award for his performance in Crossing Borders in Bharatanatyam in 2017.
In the same year, he was also recognised as one of the Top 10 Malaysia Cultural Dancers by the Research House of Asia (RHA) media.
Learn more about the significance of learning Bharatanatyam in the long run.
Source: Malaysiakini
How Can You Cultivate The Interest Of Bharatanatyam Among Your Peers?
Wouldn't it be a waste if you were the only one who had the interest and passion to learn Bharatanatyam among your peers?
Perhaps it's time to find a dancing buddy.
Not sure how to begin? Here are three tips to get the ball rolling.
Tip 1: Bring them to watch a performance
No matter how good of a storyteller you are, nothing beats the actual experience of watching a complete Bharatanatyam performance.
Of course, you can give them a little cultural background of what a Bharatanatyam performance entails beforehand and let them watch the performance without interruption from the beginning to the end.
For starters, you can bring them for an Arangetram performance, where it's usually open to the public for free.
Tip 2: Introduce them to an actual Bharatanatyam dancer(s)
If you know of a friend who is learning Bharatanatyam or who is an experienced Bharatanatyam dancer, you can introduce your friends to them.
Through these friendships, you and your friends will also get a better understanding of the dance and learn about the dance through the perspective of an "insider".
Tip 3: Sign up for a trial Bharatanatyam lesson together
Last but not least, you can sign up for a trial lesson together with them.
It's a good way to learn the basics of the dance. Trial lessons are a great way to gauge your basic skills and how much you are willing to commit to learning consistently.
During your trial lessons, pay attention and observe the basic poses and steps of Bharatanatyam.
Canadian-American motivational speaker, Brian Tracy said this, "Learn something new. Try something different. Convince yourself that you have no limits."
What Are The Career Prospects That You Can Look Into As Dance Major In Bharatanatyam?
Let's say you have mastered the Bharatanatyam after years of learning it (be it through private tutoring or further studies), you might start to wonder what's the next step to take.
This could be a significant decision if you are determined to enter the performing arts industry. For many dance graduates, they are most likely to find themselves in these three inter-related career pathways.
Principal Dancer/Choreographer (Performance)
As a dance graduate who is well-versed in Bharatanatyam, you can certainly be involved in full-scale productions. Be it during cultural events, musical theatres, or even touring across the globe.
Dance Instructor /Lecturer
Another popular career pathway is to go into teaching. As you teach, you not only get to hone your skills but also pass down the legacy of Bharatanatyam to the next generation. There are many Bharatanatyam dancers who end up teaching in higher learning institutions and dance studios.
Photo by Abhyuday Majhi on Unsplash
Artistic Director
If you have a passion for dance and also a vision for entrepreneurship, this could be your next career pathway. You get to come out with the ideation of various projects and also look out for talents for various productions.
We hope this article has given you some new insights about learning Bharatanatyam. It's not an exclusive dance but it's a culturally rich performing art that can be enjoyed by individuals of different races and age groups in Malaysia.
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