Dentist pays homage to dance master in Bharatanatyam recital
The riveting movements of Indian classical dance accompanied by rhythmic music have captured the attention of many, but for one young girl, it would inspire her to grow up and take the stage herself while balancing a career in dentistry.
Dr Kavitta Tamilselvan’s journey in learning the art form has allowed her an escape from the stress of her profession and now she wants to honour her dance master for his guidance.
The dentist is set to perform a tribute Bharatanatyam show on July 23 at the Temple of Fine Arts Kuala Lumpur, for her guru...
The riveting movements of Indian classical dance accompanied by rhythmic music have captured the attention of many, but for one young girl, it would inspire her to grow up and take the stage herself while balancing a career in dentistry.
Dr Kavitta Tamilselvan’s journey in learning the art form has allowed her an escape from the stress of her profession and now she wants to honour her dance master for his guidance.
The dentist is set to perform a tribute solo Bharatanatyam show on July 23 at the Temple of Fine Arts Kuala Lumpur, for her guru Shri Nimal Raj.
Kavitta’s passion for classical dance began when she was a child after watching Bharatanatyam performances at temples and stage shows.
“I remember how I used to stand there watching them and losing myself in the process. I was so fascinated and admired the sound of the bells on the anklets (salanggai) and costumes, trying to understand what they were expressing through their dance.
“I would come home and stand facing the mirror and tried to copy the dance. I remember that all I ever wanted as a child was to be a Bharatanatyam dancer,” the 27-year-old told Malaysiakini.
Kavitta took lessons from her cousin as a child, by 18 she decided to go for formal training.
“Although my formal training only began much later, I must say that my deep-rooted passion and interest in learning Bharatanatyam coupled with my teacher’s dedication in wanting to bring out the best version of the dancer within me had led me to complete my Arangetram in three years,” she said.
Arangetram is when a dancer completes her formal dance training and performs on stage for the first time.
Other than Bharatanatyam, Kavitta also learned the basics of another classical dance, Kathak, but never fully pursued it.
She also loves choreographing and recalled how she would choreograph her performances for school functions.
“I used to look forward to events that took place at school just so I could dance. What started at the age of seven, continued until my university days. I had not missed a year of performing during all of my schooling and university years.”
Kavitta has also taken Carnatic singing lessons and plays the veena but dance is her first love.
Dance-dentistry balance
When asked how she balances dance with her profession as a dentist, she said: “To be honest, this one was really tough. My work as a dentist in the Health Ministry is very demanding emotionally, mentally and physically, especially during the pandemic.
“In all honesty, it was my dance that kept me going. My dance liberated me from the materialistic world around me. It is a tool that helped me with my journey within.”
Despite being asked numerous times before why she dances and what it means to her, Kavitta is still unsure of the proper response.
“To me, it is like asking ‘why do you love your parents?’. How do you answer such questions? Isn’t the answer obvious? You do something because you like it, don’t you?”
After years of dancing, Kavitta is still looking forward to exploring more aspects of dance.
“Initially, I used to believe I danced because it felt like home to my body, mind and soul. I felt like that was the one thing I could be in tune with, and all of me could relate to. It was that one thing that felt familiar. I was convinced that it must be why I chose dance over everything else I like to do.“
‘Dance rescued me’
Kavitta once had to attend two dance classes that were held between 8am and 1pm with an hour break in between. Stressed from work, the dentist knew she could not cope.
“I wanted to stay in bed and just cry my heart out. Despite feeling all that, I still attended classes - because I had to dress up and show up. Classes started, and in no time I became someone else. Suddenly, all of what I was feeling, all that pain... vanished. Suddenly, I was fine, as if none of my sorrows existed.”
It was then she realised that dance rescued her.
“That’s what it is. It keeps me in a safe space, it clears my head. In movement I find stillness and in stillness I find movement. With every raised heartbeat, I find myself alive.
“It gives me that freedom to play and write my own story, it allows me to be around the people (characters) I’d love to be around, and it allows me to be the character I’d love to play. Suddenly, Krishna is someone I’ve known personally and loved, and bam, I’ve had an awakening.”
Solo show for dance master
Kavitta’s upcoming solo Bharatanatyam show is dedicated to her dance guru fondly addressed as Nimal anna (big brother).
“My guru started to explore the art of Bharatanatyam under the guidance of the late master Gopal Shetty, late master Shivadas, Shrimathi Vatsala Shivadas and Shrimathi Radha Shetty at the Temple of Fine Arts, Kuala Lumpur.”
Nimal, a law degree holder, continued learning the theoretical and musical aspects of Bharatanatyam and became a dance master with the Temple of Fine Arts in the 90s. He is also the director of Peace Bliss Productions and Natya Rajyam.
“Nimal anna has been nothing but a selfless man who always wanted the best for me, not only in dance but in my life as well. I usually refer to him as an ocean of knowledge.
”I love his approach to dance because it is unique. His ways of retelling the age-old Puranas (literature) through dance in a way that would be suitable for the modern age are exemplary.
"On some days, my dance class would just be a conversation about life, other days it would be so technical involving the nuances of my abhinaya. So it’s more than just dance,” she said.
Kavitta credited Nimal for giving her an identity in the dance industry.
“I can’t be more grateful. He has given me so much room for growth and improvement under his watchful eyes,” she added.
Kavitta said that Nimal motivated her to teach dance and in doing so, it has made her a better dancer and has also enlightened her in many ways.
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