Deha–Bodha: Notes of a Thinking Dancer
Season 1
Episode 4 - Nāṭyaśāstra & Tolkappiyam (Part II)
Episode 3: Nāṭyaśāstra & Tolkappiyam
Episode 2
Intro - Episode 0
by Divya Nedungadi
Natyashastra and the Tolkappiyam, the deeper you go, the more these two ancient texts feel like they were somehow in conversation with each other.
Two ancient texts one in Sanskrit, one in Tamil and one question they both discuss: what does great art actually do to us?
Art is a mad search for individualism.” — Paul Gauguin. This episode reflects on identity and individuality in the world of Indian classical dance training. When does a dancer truly begin to discover themselves? Are we nurturing artists… or obedient followers?
What does dance mean? When you or I are not on stage? When dancers are not performing, when there is no audience evaluating it? What remains?
Why do we dance? Can we call a movement incorrect or just different?