Before Words there was DANCE!

A time comes, when a toddler learns to say his first word - “Mama”. From then on, he ventures into the world of alphabets. Letters turn into words, words into sentences, and sentences into paragraphs. Well, this is just the beginning of his journey. Petty lies to the teacher, verbal fights with his enemy, his life’s first confession, words of affirmation, his first job interview all follow by. This is him living in an expressive world, where emotions, wants and requirements are expressed through a mouthful of words. Words have such power that if they want, they can make or break relationships. Such is the might of this divinity. However, there must be a time when this approach of communication didn’t exist. Living beings like us possessed another medium, a very special one. Before words, movement was our ‘first language’. This is the story of dance, not just as a medium of entertainment, joy and passion, but also of discourse.

One of the earliest examples suggesting dance as the primary form of conversation include rock art and paintings. The renowned ten thousand year old Bhimbetka Rock Paintings of Madhya Pradesh show figures in large, synchronised circles indicating ritualistic and social celebrations. Some figures, such as in the “Wizard Dance” scene are shown wearing traditional masks and horned headgear, representing shamanistic healing. Similar paintings have been found in Roca dels Moros, Barranco de los Grajos and Cueva de la Vieja in Spain, the Cave of Les Trois Fréres in France, The Egyptian Tomb Paintings, Tassili n’Ajjer paintings in Algeria and the Borneo Cave Art in Indonesia as well, showing synchronised formations usually meant for ritualistic events. Engraved dancing figures of the Upper Paleolithic era, particularly Geissenklösterle and Gönnersdorf in Germany show stylised movements indicating organised dance forms.

Even the ‘Natya Shastra’ by Bharata Muni, or famously known as the ‘Fifth Veda’, poses as a great epitome. A book written thousands of centuries back codified the essence of dance and music. And not just that, it possessed the qualities of an innate dancer, the way in which costumes should be worn, hand and leg movements should be placed, defined the role of an art director, and much much more! As a professional Kathak danseuse myself, I can guarantee you that the story of my own dance form is no less. Long ago, there used to be groups of people in villages called ‘Kathaakars’, who narrated stories of Hindu epics such as Ramayana and Mahabharata. Gradually, a shift from storytellers to ‘storytelling dancers’ took place. The red fingertips of one’s hands formed immaculate mudras, while the eyes narrated the story. It bloomed into its spiritual essence. Not long after, this temple dance saw several changes with the entry of the Mughals, particularly in the Lucknow region, wherein it transformed into a dance performed in courts or darbars, now seen as a mode of pure entertainment. There’s a popular saying too, “Katha Kahe So Kathik Kahlave”, meaning the ones who narrate stories are referred to as ‘Kathiks’ or minstrels.

Nonetheless, in this age of modernity, occupancy and rigorous academic competition, we have somehow lost connection with dance. It’s either viewed as ‘just’ a medium of fun and amusement or a waste of time. Hence, students either don’t engage with it or quit dancing due to societal pressure fore perfect scores. We, as a society, need to understand that dance, like any other activity in life, is essential. Dance is spirituality, dance is meditation and dance is our ancient root of connectivity. Underestimating, mocking, quitting, and forgetting about dance it is like missing a train that you know you won’t be able to catch. Preserving dance has become a necessary chore. Because fifty years from now on, the only thing we will be left with is a heart full of regret.

It’s either now or never!