'A Stage is All that a Dancer Waits For'
CHENNAI: Though dancer Josyula Suryanarayana Murthy hails from a family deeply rooted in propagating kuchipudi, the artiste says that during his sojourn at Kalakshetra, he experienced moments of great revelation to eventually train in bharathanatyam. Talking to the dancer, who performed at Vasant Utsav organised at the Kapaleeswarar Temple recently, made one realise that he possesses a persona, which makes him one of the best teachers that one has seen, as he makes sure that his students get equal appreciation and space on stage.
For a person, who has dedicated his entire life for dance, Murthy says, “A dancer should communicate through his divine art, without the power of speech. The divinity in art should be such that it should elevate the mind of the audience.”
And while he is deeply rooted in tradition, Murthy assures us he is not aversed to innovation. Instead, he tells us that innovation should always be coupled with tradition when it comes to the art. He adds, “We must always strive to protect traditional values. Dance should not be performed for mere entertainment. There should be an element of bhakti in art and it should necessarily be propagated to the next generation. Dance should be perceived as a ritual.”
When he looks back at his life as a dancer, the words preached by his models of inspiration, V P Dhananjayan and Rukmini Devi, seem as fresh to him as though he had heard the words only yesterday. “Never give up tradition and never compromise on the quality of dance,” Murthy recalls the wisdom he holds dear.
Hailing from the 7th generation of the traditional bhagavathar family in Andhra Pradesh, tears well up in his eyes, as this guru reminisces the decisions he made at the tender age of 17 — to dedicate his life to bharathanatyam, and to tread on a different path altogether, while at the same time renouncing everything he had, be it his roots, family or the traditional artform of kuchipudi.
He reminisces, “That’s the kind of dedication my father wanted me to have in the art. It was he who took me to Kalakshetra and encouraged me.”
He aims for an institute like the Kalakshetra, wherein without diluting tradition, he can bring out innovative work. However, it should be something that even a layman can understand, he points out. One witnesses great lament, as he expresses that young dancers can showcase their talents, if only sabhas are willing to provide them with more opportunities, rather than setting the stage for established artistes only. He says, “The goal of a dancer in life is to find an opportunity. A stage is all that a dancer is waiting for.”
Sathyanarayana Murthy trains close to 40 students at his dance school, Bharakshetram. He has also rendered various performances abroad. He is also a member of the Indian Council of Cultural Relations (ICCR).