It takes years of practice for artists across genres to hone their craft diligently. No one knows this better than Dr Shobha Koser, founder and registrar of Pracheen Kala Kendra and a renowned Kathak dance exponent and guru. Having begun her practice at the tender age of twelve, she has come a long way in this genre. She joins The Daily Guardian for a chat about her life journey.
Excerpts:
Q. Why did you choose a career in dance?
A. I started out at the age of 12 and belong to the Jaipur Gharana. The journey was very exciting as well as interesting with a lot of ups and downs. My husband late Madan Lal Koser and I together established the Pracheen Kala Kendra and I still practice Kathak despite the exigencies of age. There have been a lot of struggles over the years, but it has all been worth it.
I am currently based in Chandigarh, though originally I am from Agra. Over the years, I have participated in many national and international programs. The one that I want to mention particularly is Bhaskar Rao Music and Dance Festival organised by Pracheen Kala Kendra. It is one of the most prestigious national music and dance festivals because it has been hosted for over 50 years. It is one of the biggest platforms of its kind in India, and one of the most prestigious national and international level festivals.
I was also part of the Government College for Girls (GCG) Chandigarh faculty and that was a wonderful association. I retired as Head of Department from that college. My experience was great and I kept in touch with all my colleagues. I have received a lot of appreciation from my students there as well. I thank God and feel lucky to have been part of it as I was showered with love and appreciation. The faculty and students of GCG are like another family to me.
Q. Tell us about your book?
A. When I studied at Bombay University, dance was not a subject. Slowly things changed with places like Delhi and Punjab offering courses in this field. I wrote a book to represent this subject. In my book ‘Dance in India’, I analyse different forms of dance in India. My book has also been translated into many languages. And soon a new book will be published as well.
Q. What have been the biggest challenges you have faced so far?
A. The two biggest challenges I faced were entering the field of dance and when I established Pracheen Kala Kendra. Not all of my family members were happy with my choice of career and making them agree to it was a real challenge. Although we have received much applause and support from people now, establishing a dance and music organisation in that era was a real challenge and we were lucky to taste success.
Q. How did you sustain your Kathak practice during the pandemic?
A. I did not face any issues with my practice due to the pandemic. I practised Kathak to maintain good health and stamina. My practice varies between one to two hours but I try to practice Kathak regularly. I actively do my daily chores like gardening and cooking. The younger generation does not appreciate the importance of doing daily chores at home, which they should do to stay active. We should be active in household work to be self-sufficient in every aspect of life.
I also stayed active with the Pracheen Kala Kendra. Recently we conducted a national level Bhaskar Rao Sammelan for the Music and Dance Festival in March at Chandigarh. Artists from different parts of India came and performed there. This has been organised for over 50 years. Through this platform, we want to promote classical dance and music as well as different instruments around the country.
Q. What is your advice for the younger generation?
A. ‘Keep patience’ is what I would like to tell this generation. Young students have very little patience —they want to be famous dancers in a month or two which is impossible. There are different stages to becoming a classical dancer. A lot of hard work and discipline goes into it, and practice, good form in training and continuity are key. This needs time.
To be a good dancer, practice is a must. The younger generation can’t get a shortcut to this process. Other than patience, I often see students learning from a guru, and trying to be a guru to someone else just the next day! This is wrong as they first need to understand and possess the form completely.
Noor Anand Chawla pens lifestyle articles for various publications and her blog www.nooranandchawla.com. She can be reached on nooranand@gmail.com.