Ehsaas '07 Review by Agastya
Is it better to be an intellectual, capable of higher thought, wit and wisdom, or is it better to be a common man, that everyday people can relate with? Would a common man be able to impress an intellectual? Should an intellectual be able to impress everyday people? Or would an intellectual always appear to be a snob to people who are not like him/herself?
Are classical art forms a 'higher' expression of art, or does popular culture dictate what qualifies as art and what doesn't? If classical dance is more evolved, then would it always impress its audiences? Does the audience need to be educated in the classical tradition to appreciate the nuances of the art, or the skill of the performer? Or would it be aesthetically pleasing even to the uneducated eye?
When a truly smart man interacts with people who're not as gifted, he can judge his audience, and finds a way to relate with them. If he's unable to do so, then he isn't any smarter than any one else around him he's just different. Similarly, if a classical dance form is not attractive and beautiful to untrained audiences, then it can't be a more evolved art form.
Ehsaas 2007, presented by Arpan featured dancers at different levels of skill and ability. However what was consistent about the entire show was its appeal to the audience. I have no training in dance and music but I know beauty when I see it. I know poetry when I hear it, and I know emotion when I feel it. After a number of short pieces presented by students of Arpan, the first half of the show came to an end with Kala Prayanam 'a journey in time and space' clearly the highlight of the evening in my view. That we are not in control, and time can touch us in unpredictable and uncontrollable ways, is in many ways the essence of eastern philosophy. As the piece progressed, it was evident that gradually each one of these dancers will occupy a different part of stage, and will face and point in a different direction. The end result wasn't a mystery. But the game was to figure out how and when. Who will move next? Will they be joyful about the opportunity, or forced against their wishes? Just like the universe moves us around 'sometimes' expectedly, and some times not and shapes our lives, Joyce Pauls dancers moved gracefully as they became a part of a beautiful human sculpture 'not only demonstrating their talent as dancers and undoubtedly impressing those who can appreciate the subtleties of their art' but also creating something visually pleasing, that novices like myself were able to enjoy, and be touched by.
There is a saying in Hindi 'ghar kii murgii daal baraabar' when something is easily available to us, we tend to underestimate its importance. A dancer, choreographer and teacher of Joyce Paul's caliber lives and works amongst us here in Seattle. It is easy to misjudge the value of her local presence to the community of dance and music, but I'd caution you to not fall into the trap. It is a great privilege to have artists of such high standard in such easy reach of us and a common man may not know what that means, but the wise among us know we are blessed, and grateful for it.
About Agastya Kohli
Agastya Kohli is a Seattle area based full time engineer and part time actor, director and writer. He serves as the lead of Pratidhwani's Drama Wing and is currently busy directing and producing their next mainstage play - Everyone Loves A Good Tsunami - which runs June 29th through July 8th at ECT, UW . In his free time Agastya also teaches Hindi at Gurukul (www.gurukul-wa.org) - a local Indian language school on Sunday mornings.
For more information, go to Ehsaas '07