JOHOR BARU: FANS of Indian classical dance here who eagerly anticipate performances by Suvarna Fine Arts dance academy were enthralled by the recent staging of Abhikya — the Splendor of Dance, a classic Bharata natyam performance by Ajith Bhaskaran Dass and 11 Suvarna dancers.
They recognised the hallmarks of Ajith’s touches as the performance reflected his extraordinary talent, deep spirituality, breathtaking creativity and absolute sensitivity.
In the past two decades, Ajith, the academy’s artistic director has produced distinct and original dance works that combine authentic classicism with universal appeal.
More than 20 years ago, Johor-born Ajith left a career in law to focus on his passion for Indian classical dance and was voted Best Male Dancer in the December season of the International Music and Dance Festival in Chennai, India by the Shankarabharanam Trust in 1996.
This versatile performer and choreographer won numerous accolades for his work and was the first male Indian classical dancer to be featured in the 2000 International Arts Festival in Frankfurt, Germany.
He was also the first Malaysian to perform at the famed Lincoln Center and at the Joyce Theatre, Broadway, New York in 2003.
Ajith’s mastery of techniques in the rigorous disciplines of Bharatha natyam and Odissi led him to collaborate with professional productions locally and abroad.
Apart from the students’ annual recital here, this year Suvarna performed several shows including two major productions staged in Kuala Lumpur and Singapore.
This major collaboration with artistes from Delhi for the world premiere of Brahmakalpa — the Eternal Universe was a sold-out show in KL, followed by another performance in Singapore’s Esplanade Theatre Studio last June. Next month it will be showcased at two venues in India.
“For a long time, I have not performed in JB and as we are working on a repertoire for a major dance festival in KL later this year, I thought it would be wonderful to share it with the JB audience,” said Ajith about Abhikya — the Splendor of Dance, a non-stop performance of seven dance pieces with costume changes for every dance.
This consummate artiste made it a point to connect with the audience not only through dance but also by providing a comprehensive narration in English to help the audience better appreciate the art form.
He was pleased that Suvarna has established a strong reputation with a following in Singapore and KL.
Ajith is humbled as he looked back to the early years of Suvarna when he started the dance academy in 1994 with just four students — Vijay Chandran, Sujatha Vijay, AnanthemalarDurairaj and Vijayan Veeryen.
These students went through 10 years of serious training under his tutelage before graduating as seniors. Some of the senior dancers have been with Suvarna for almost 18 years while the first four senior graduates are now part of the teaching faculty who run branches of the academy in Johor.
At Suvarna, only students who seriously want to continue dancing will be given their dance debut or arangetram — a solo performance where the guru presents his pupil to the public.
Ajith believes in giving his students a holistic education in all aspects of dance, from dancing and teaching to choreography as well as stage production.
So in every production, some of the senior students are not only dancers but also given the opportunity to be involved in wardrobe management, set and lighting design and execution.
“Indian classical dance requires a lot of passion and dedication. This passion must be backed by training and hard work. Young dancers must commit to proper training from good teachers,” said Ajith, who learnt to dance under his illustrious gurus Shanta Bhaskar, Adya K. Lakshman, Ramli Ibrahim and the Dhananjayans.
“Aspiring dancers should cultivate an interest in reading about dance and watching as many performances as they can. Dance training is only one part of a dancer’s evolution because a great deal can be learnt by osmosis and observation. Always compare yourself and your dance by international standards,” he added.
Ajith’s teaching style in Suvarna includes in-depth understanding of the dance rather than learning the steps alone.
Even though his students are eager to dance, they must listen to lectures to learn about the concept of the dance and understand the lyrics to the music.
This year, Suvarna’s artistic calendar in Johor will close with the annual students’ recital on Nov 22, in presenting Krishnamayam, a full length dance drama that will feature more than 60 dancers to the accompaniment of a live traditional orchestra.
Suvarna Fine Arts dance academy offers courses in Bharatha natyam, Odissi, contemporary and folk dances. For more information, email ajithdance@gmail.com