In a land of diversities in all spheres from culture to climate, from religion to celebrations.
Every region expresses its culture distinctly according to the ethos of the people of that particular region.And as dances are a coherent expression of human nature thoughts and feelings, each form of dance that originates, encapsulates it distinctly.
Indian dances can be broadly divided into Classical Dance Forms Semi Classical and the Folk forms.
The most well known Classical Dance styles of India are the Kathak, Odissi & Manipuri of Northern and Eastern parts of India.And
Bharatanatyam Kuchipudi and Mohiniattam Kathakali from Southern parts of India.
Classical Dance and Arts is given a revered status as according to the legends, the Gods invented the dance. It incorporates music melody beats drama form and line along with gestures through hand fingers and eye movements.
The elaborate costumes and heavy makeup somehow helps convey many depictions of the overall performances.
There are a number of Folk dance forms that are performed as well.
Traditionally all these forms have been structured around the nine emotions or rasas namely:
Hasya: happiness
Shoka: sorrow
Krodha: anger
Karuna: compassion
Bhibatsa: disgust
Adbuta: wonder
Bhaya: fear
Viram: courage
And Shanta: serenity.
The earliest Indian religious texts have described creation in terms of a dance. And the dances of India are said to have their origins in the Vedic Age of 1000BC
Even today the practice of the Indian dances have an element of religious rituals although much may have changed with time.
Musings on Dancing
A dance is an expression of who we are, our mindset our bodies our culture all intermingled inextricably. It is a statement of our roots and our connection to others.
We can express ourselves by learning and staying rooted in the structure or choose to vary and fuse and develop our understanding by adding to the repertoire other dance forms and evolve in the sharing. The choice is ours to choose. We don’t need to discard old learning as we learn something new but align ourselves to understand the larger picture. This way we experience diversity for ourselves as we learn to see the significance of every form its contribution its essence and relevance of its roots in culture through the movements and expression. Learning dance from different lands helps us understand and evolve. We can learn to respect others traditions and cultures while valuing our own.
Sharing an inspiring story on knowledge versus wisdom.
In two independent houses,separated by a compound two people were living, in one a retired person and in the other a techie.
They had planted identical saplings on either sides of the compound.
The techie used to give lot of water and manure to the plants.The retired,just small quantity of water and little manure.
The techies plant grew into lush green,leafy robust plant.
The retired person’s plant was a near normal but much luxuriant than his neighbor’s.
One night there was a heavy rain with gusty wind.
Next morning both came out to see the fate of the plants.
To techie’s surprise his plant had got uprooted where as his neighbor’s was unharmed.
Techie asks the retired as why his plant was uprooted despite such a good care where as the neighbor had hardly cared.
The retired person’s answer should be a lesson for all of us.
Look young man, you had supplied every thing a plant would need,in abundance and the plant did not have to go in search of it.Your roots did not have go down. I was supplying just enough to keep it alive. For the rest roots had to go down into the ground to fulfil it’s needs.
Since your roots were superficial the rain and wind could easily fell it.
Since my roots were pretty deeply grounded they could withstand the onslaught of the nature.
The same applies to your children too.
#HappyParenting!!😊
Living in this now is a sustaining yet exacting task and as every moment presents itself uniquely there is no game plan other than living in it, being at peace,sensing peace and spreading peace in every now as life plays on …
Giving is the movement where the heart speaks without hesitation and in the flow through deeds and words.There is a moment of decision before the giving and it is in that moment that the life can be propelled to evolve along with the patterns of thought.
There is a lot of lovely words focussed on Giving and most are essentially on the’ Give before the Take.’
However, I also have something to share here …
Every giving may have its own reasons…
Some may be in an instinctive reaction like warming up of the heart due to mutual understanding either being in the wavelength of a resonance at that moment.
Or it may be because it is in goodwill as you genuinely care to show your appreciation.
Another would be because of your own good nature where you cannot leave without a positive act of appreciation in response…. there may be so many million and more reasons for giving which is wonderful for the world at large.
Now the reasons for not giving may be personal and unique as well.
Like for instance when you feel you are being used for a purpose that is self-serving.
Often there is a certain energy, in the very act of giving and that is what leaves an imprint on us and decides our future course of action.
Like at times a particular person’s energy may overwhelm and exhaust you or may be too much to handle that giving more thought or attention to it would feel counterproductive.
Like when you feel stressed and overburdened in the complexities of life and living that you simply may have overlooked the fact that the giving action is truly way beyond the gift itself.
Like when you fail to understand the reasons for giving or think the giver has ulterior motives for that matter…you may just appreciate it out of politeness but steer clear of receiving further as its truly not in your best interest to receive such a gift.
But whatever it is, Giving nurtures and nourishes the soul of both the giver and the receiver when the intention is positive.
A lot of perspectives have been shared as far as women’s empowerment measures are concerned in India. Putting the plans on paper to process for transformation is the true need of the hour.
The focal point for change and transformations in bettering women’s life is about understanding women as equal humans not simply as a pretty better half and sympathizing with them as burdened beings.
A matter of Value
The dignity of the being is when women
are seen as individuals who are capable decision makers be it at home or boardroom and respected for their opinions and valued as they are.
A matter of equality
From birth as a baby who is raised equally with pride and without prejudice to acknowledging a need for changes in schools and colleges education, to be gender neutral and not gender biased.
Non-discrimination
At work, the corporate culture needs a structural mind shift to understanding unique challenges faced by female employees in terms of reducing harassment and denouncing gender bias in benefits perks and salaries. Discrimination is truly a discomfort that destroys productivity ‘
A matter of right!
To teach that a marriage of two people is to co-inhabit and collaborate as equals without the women being considered as weaker her inferior to the man.
As senior citizens, both genders must require social security assistance equally as with age the body wears down and gender becomes insignificant again.
A matter of Sustained empowerment
Besides simply providing authority or power to empower is to make the person stronger and more confident, especially in self-management.There is a need to see self-management as a skill that needs continuous and supportive nurturing for development. More the human approach the easier and more sustaining are the solutions.
Challenges at hand
In a country like India where women are still considered second-class citizens where corruption makes change difficult. where domestic abuse be it physical social or mental is rampant, women are still subjugated regardless of the society or state that come from in different degrees.There is a need for an educational system that guides and gathers up the spirit of women and coaches them to trust their abilities as many are in a state of doubt and fear and inhibited from personal self-expression.
The masses are still a persecuted lot in terms of social stigma from being a woman who is divorced and being single to widows and a working or non-working women. From feeling unsafe in travelling alone to securing a home to stay to having a lunch or dinner alone in restaurant to wanting to watch a movie without anyone for company to driving a car alone in a journey…. all women will relate to an increase in stress levels during these normal chores and activities even in the day .Moreover, it is the right to feel safe without discrimination of gender while travelling at night or day in a bus or car or any public transport. Many will have a story of subjugation and social insecurity that they may want to tell but do not speak up due to a lack of voice and fear of being hounded by attracting unnecessary attention to themselves.
Education matters!
The true solutions are a gradual change through continued public education reforms for all ages and gender that may help in bringing forth new mindsets and reinforce an altruistic behaviour.
Setting up women-centric organisations with greater authority can work to bridge the disconnects in communication as they could be the pioneers for any planned intervention.And movements to empower one another as women in consensus and collaborative endeavour helps bridge the dividing gaps.
From I to the We
Empowering the spirit within one another is the key and it becomes easier in the of the realisation of how interdependent our world truly is in the interconnects and how this can become our biggest strength
In a globally connected world resources needs to be collaborated to help one another.No one then will feel left out and helpless.There will be less hoarding and accumulation and more sharing and utilization.
Reformed practices in education will manifest the outcomes in society through transforming mindsets
Empowerment will mean a lift in global consciousness and not be self-limiting in its connotations.Only then can we comprehend what true empowerment means and how much it matters!
Empathy is about inclusivity and expansivity…
In thought & understanding in action.
In applying the sensitivity to the needs of the another in pain.
In doing without expecting in return
In feeling a oneness in spirit
Empathy speaks through heartfelt words
And kindred souls.
When empathy speaks it channels the thoughts to kindness and compassion.
Empathy speaks at times without words
From one heart to another
Empathy instils hope in the being when all hope has left.
Empathy operates with the goodness of nature and denotes the goodwill of nurture.
Empathy is a feeling, a sensing, a knowing
whose true measure is undefined and uncontained.
At times it springs forth unexpected.
And at times needs be cajoled to manifest from within.
As in the throes of life and living
Empathy at times does the disappearing act
But humans are endowed with the sense of empathy in the being.
Law of nature balances itself by nurturing empathy in the human lives.
For that is what makes up the uniqueness of the species.
A few traits that are empathy driven …
You have a strong sense of intuition
You feel and sense another’s feelings.
You are sensitive and receptive.
You prefer the positive in and around you.
Being in crowded places overwhelms you
You avoid negativity from all quarters.
You can easily tell when someone is telling stories or lying.
You enjoy the calm of peaceful environment
You enjoy the beauty of art and mellow music.
You find having time alone to recharge helpful.
You may feel vulnerable at times due to being extremely sensitive.
You may be a very large-hearted & generous.
You tend to feel refreshed in natural surroundings.
You may find yourself listening more than talking.
You may have an evolved sense of awareness of your surroundings.
Do you identify with all or even some of
them and if so feel glad that you are
empathic. as being so can be tuned to
become your source of inner strength.
Empathy can be seen as a gift of being humane! Respect it! Value it! Nurture it!
Sharing this immensely fulfilling read of stories which came my way today!
Once, All villagers decided to pray for rain, on the day of prayer all the People gathered but only one boy came with an umbrella.
That’s
*FAITH*
When You throw a baby in the air, he laughs because he knows you will catch him.
That’s
*TRUST*
Every Night we go to bed, without any assurance of being alive the next
Morning but still we set the alarms to wake up.
That’s
*HOPE*
We Plan big things for tomorrow in spite of zero knowledge of the future.
That’s
*CONFIDENCE*
We See the world suffering.
But still, we get Married.
That’s
*LOVE*
On an Old Man’s shirt was written a cute sentence
‘I Am Not 60 Years Old.., I Am Sweet 16 with 44 years Experience.’
That’s
*ATTITUDE*
Faith is a certainity & trust is a true measure in hope that comes with a knowing confidence of the unknown which is what brings forth the bonds in a boundless love that warms the heart and soul when a life is lived with a never say die attitude !
Mom..?
Dad..?
Husband /wife…?
Best friend..?
Son..?
Daughter…??
Or someone else… ????
Your real life partner
is Your *Body*
You and your body
stay together from
the beginning of your
life till your last
breath.
You enjoy each
relationship in this
world that you feel
is good for you..
But you also play an
important role with
your body.
What you do to your
body is your
responsibility and
that will come back
to You.
The more you care
for your body, the
more your body will
care for You.
What you eat,
What you do for being fit,
How u deal with
stress (physical/mental/emotional),
How much rest you
give to it..
Will decide how your body gonna respond
in your day to day
life.
Remember your
body is the only
permanent address
where You live.
What your body
wants is…,
Love
Care
Respect
Politeness
Honesty
Your body is your
responsibility.
Because…
You are Your real
life partner.
Sharing this above message as they certainly are words to remember!
The Body has always been at the receiving end.
Then there are always issues with the body we have , too thin too fat too muscular too lean too angular too buffed to wiry … sad for we are what we feed ourselves .
Instead of gratitude for the gift of life that gives us our body we focus on actual nonissues, without being able to be content and add to our stress levels ourselves.
Nurture your body.Value the residing space of our living spirit.
Respect the body
Our body is not a machine it needs more than regular fuel in the form of food .
Because we are a web of interconnected cells we thrive in the integration and interdependence of the body mind and spirit .
We need to think well to feel well
We need to eat well to be well
We need to choose well to live well
We need to behave well to thrive in wellness
This is the strength of the interdependence that keeps us going.
Feed the body with love:
Take care to eat right and respect its state of being
Be polite and honest in your ways. Every body can be listening . You are responsible for you can be influencing the apace around you. You are emitting your intentions and thoughts outwards subconsciously
You must remember to rest and care for your body whenever needed.
For whatever way and however you can, it is certainly like turning back the clock into a more productive you!
Between being an asset and liability the ego drives our being.
Unmindful and ungrateful often times as such is its way!
It can interfere just as much as it can be indifferent to the being
It can alter goodwill and stall humility from expressing itself
It can change the words we were meaning to speak
It can halt a chance to commune with others
It can steer a dialogue to a monologue
It can become a bone of contention
It can rob us of cooperation and collaboration
And yet all this while a sense of ego can be a source of self-esteem
It can help a person from crumbling in a crisis
It can create a curiosity to know and acquire
It can be a strength of support in times of dire need
It can propel us to do more & achieve more
Your Ego can be your trusted aide
For it knows you more than you ever can.
It is born with you from your first breath
And plays on its course till your very last.
So the question is not about banishing but of balancing.
In striking a chord of balance between the states of being.
Mindful words from a heart full of grace,
Can be a precursor of changing ways.
A respect and regard for another’s perspective
Appreciation and value for others much as one’s own!
A few reflections on striking a balance
Accept that your ego is like your shadow
It follows where ever you go
It creates hurdles in your deeds
It can doubt and induce fear
Simply trust with your loving self
For it’s your internal guide
That leads from the heart
To let you see and know
Who you truly are!
Let your love meet your fears
It will understand the power of love
Choose to be loving and considerate
Change your track to being compassionate
Choose to avoid loose talk
Choose the virtue of generosity
Choose to be inclusive and expansive
Choose to admit your mistakes
Choose to see the world beyond the self
Choose to take your self lightly
Choose the freedom of laughter
It unshackles the chains of self-restraint
Let the self, express and entertain itself!
So allow the ego to a little space but make sure it knows its space.
Allow it to be a part of you but don’t allow it take the whole of you.
Transcending the Ego is the aspiration,
For every religion speaks of this very transcendence…
From trivial and baseline pursuits to higher consciousness.
Ego can be a tool for survival but it can be a weapon of mass destruction!
Transform it into self-improvement manoeuvre it to reconstruction.
In every deed of Giving the ego cannot be far behind for, to give itself seems so full of itself. The Giving means there is something to give an upper hand a stake a superiority if nothing else a contentment of a fulfilment. So to give seems a little egotistical in all its glorious ways.
Yet there is a transformation in every act of giving, that finds its path in the journey towards transcendence .
My reflections after a chance visit to Swadhaa A Waldorf School in Pune.
In my spare time as a hobby, I enjoy visiting offbeat places and interacting with people from all walks of life to broaden my perspectives. To envision the world through the eyes of another is always an insightful experience.
When I visited Auroville in Pondicherry last year amongst the many inspirational insights I came across a bit about how Waldorf Schools started by Rudolf Steiner who was inspired by Sir Aurobindo, stands for holistic education that speaks to the soul and strives for human goodwill and integrity and instilling a sense of creativity and wonder through its unconventional schooling methods.
Besides that, I also had come across words of praise for her schooling and education received from the well-known actress Jennifer Anniston an alumnus of a Waldorf School herself.
“I was always fascinated by acting, but my experience at Rudolf Steiner [school] encouraged me to pursue it as a career.” “Steiner was a free-spirited school that encouraged creativity and individualism.”
As a dance educator myself I have always felt schooling at conventional schools can be rather stifling for it focuses more on procedure and protocol than allowing freedom to explore. The root of our individuality and personal expression is often stubbed in the process of conforming to the norms and practices unless it is balanced out when there is a gateway to open communication and positive support on the homefront.
Recently having shifted my residence in Pune City and in my foray into understanding what my area had on offer as a creative educator myself, I came across. SWADHA Learning Centre. My interest was piqued that it was based on the principles of a Waldorf school.
I decided to experience the place on my own. Luckily for me the day I visited the school it turned out to be their Annual Day and there were elaborate festivities planned out for the entire day by the school for one and all.
There were workshops galore… I attended a few out of curiosity and came away heartened by the immense enthusiasm and support from the parents and children alike for this schools annual activity. I took my time to interact with some of the parents.
What I was immediately drawn to was the amount of openness that was there reflected in so many ways from children who were learning life skills experientially to how parents were so beautifully integrated into the educational activities of the children.
The pictures speak for themselves I must say!
In an era of grades and marks that decides destinies of children as future adults,
the learning concepts observed here come as a breath of fresh air. Like the lack of grading systems and adding only an individual assessment by the educator annually to ensure that each child is addressed and understood for their unique potential. And the breakdown of hierarchy which makes everyone an involved collaborator working towards positive transformations. And I believe they also help and guide a child gradually, who wants to integrate into conventional schooling system if they wish or need to for whatever reasons. The question is would we want to?
Perhaps the varied schools under the Waldorf umbrella are as unique as the people collectively managing them, but the fact remains that there is a happier learning space we can co-create for our future children if we have the willingness to come together and contribute our time and resources.
” A space that’s open yet bounded with a focus can be conducive to learning as when the process of exploration begins it is helped by a structured approach. But while boundaries may be reminding of a journey having a destination, it is the openness that reflects the never-ending source of creative possibilities.”
Savvy
An excerpt from my reflections on Learning spaces…. (read more )
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