Don’t ask me what type of dance I do.
There
are many things you shouldn’t say in polite conversation. Besides the
obvious taboos, however, the subject I am the most reluctant to mention
is that I dance, for it brings up the topic of what type of dance I do. I
am not embarrassed to do Kathak traditional Indian dance, and have no
problem divulging it if the person who asked has no further comment. If,
however, they ask me to expound, I am forced to embark on a very
long-winded explanation of the dance form. Before I start a technical
explanation, I usually have to correct the misconception of that when I
dance, I bob my head like a pigeon while doing a somewhat less bouncy
version of Gangnam Style. By the time I can describe the intricate
movements and graceful twirls of a Kathak dancer, the slight smirk on my
listener’s face has most likely been replaced by the scrunchy look of a
yawn suppressed. If I am lucky, after an approximately ten minute
monologue, the person who now regrets asking will consider the topic
exhausted .
On
occasion, I am not so fortunate. The second part of the explanation
requires more time, and maybe even a piece or two of paper as I describe
the difference between music composition in traditional India and in
the modern West. The major problem I face is translation. While some
things, such as the word for beat, matra, are easily adapted into
English, concepts such as taal take much more time. Taal technically
means clap, which is derived from how time is kept, and it is the
equivalent of a time signature in Indian music. There are multiple ones,
just as there are multiple time signatures, so much of our time in
dance class is spent learning how to perform tukras and parans, two of
many different types of pieces, on different types of taals. That is
what the purest form of classical Kathak consists of. However, our
school also performs different folk dances, modernized variations of
Kathak, and occasionally Bollywood, so we learn much of that as well in
class.
You
didn’t ask, but I just finished telling you. It seems easier written
than said; perhaps I am just reluctant to breach the topic based on past
experience. I am afraid of stuttering or misusing words and injuring
the sanctity of the dance form, and I am afraid of sounding pompous or
condescending. Despite my vocal inflection and the look on my face as I
try to find words to convey the ideas in my brain, that is really the
last idea I would want to give. In short, I am just afraid of the effort
all that talking will take and that it won’t be for anyone’s benefit.
Regardless
of the reason, don’t ask me what type of dance I do. I have decided
that from now on, my answer will probably just be this link:
http://lmgtfy.com/?q=kathak+traditional+indian+dance.
Happy Googling.
Yes
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