Nritya nilaya: an abode of indian classical dance forms, Bhopal

Abstract

Globalization improved the cultural exchange and exposure to various dance forms. Indians got influenced by their styles and vice-versa. Not only did we start learning dance forms which were not a native of the country but also dancers from all across the world got interested in Indian Classical dance forms and actually started coming and settling here in order to learn the form. Thus, on one hand, we have dance studios catering to students learning the western (non- Indian) forms as a part of their extra-curricular activities or to become a professional dancer in that genre, and on the other hand we have students who are interested in learning the Indian Classical forms and making it a way of their life. With a sudden boom in the number of students and performers gaining interest in the Indian dance forms, a large number of training institutes and performing spaces and dance studios are coming up in every nook and corner of the country. But sadly, due to the trend of blindly copying the West, the design of these spaces usually mimic them. As we know, Indian classical dance forms are not only rooted deep in traditions, spirituality and devotion but are directly inspired from nature and are a depiction of the daily life of the people. Hence, the question arises whether these performance and learning spaces are suited for learning or performing and viewing these dance forms?