Contemporary Dance (Practices, Paradigms and Practitioners)

This detailed book on Contemporary dance is a much needed narrative for Indian audiences interested in the contemporary arts. To the uninitiated audience and students of dance, the book transmits ample knowledge written in simple, clear language and for seasoned practitioners, it becomes a treasure trove that reminds them of rich creative contributions of dance pioneers to this amazing form!

Written by a practitioner and a teacher of this art form, the book does justice to what the title promises to, deliver Contemporary dance: Practices, Paradigms and Practitioners' in as succinct a manner as possible. The discussions on contemporary dance, varied aspects and allied arts related to it, including all the detailed answers to frequently asked questions about contemporary dance, are most enriching. Tripura moves through contemporary dance history and current trends in the west and east with an amazing ease, and articulates similarities and differences, all the while holding a stance of almost factual neutrality. The book does not try to glorify one or the other approach, style or technique, but places before readers unbiased articulations of contemporary dance stories and journeys.

The author's own experiences are blended in with details of her conversations with contemporary dance practitioners. It is fascinating to read what choreographers and dancers have to say about their creative processes. The book gives readers glimpses of what goes on in the minds of these artists as they create brilliant pieces of Contemporary Dance Art.

Tripura Kashyap is a Choreographer, Dance Educator, Movement Therapist and Performer. She trained in Bharatanatyam at Kalakshetra. Chennai (1980-84) and was exposed to Jazz, Ballet, Modern Dance, Choreography and Dance Theatre at American Dance Festival, North Carolina. She studied Dance/Movement Therapy at Hancock Center and Contemporary dance at University of Wisconsin, Madison (USA) and later obtained an MA in Psychology. She learnt Mayurbhanj Chhau with Bharat Sharma and was a performer in Chandralekha's Dance Company for many years. Tripura has received fellowships from Indian Ministry of Culture, Sangeet Natak Academy (Delhi) and Ashoka International foundation for her innovative work in dance therapy and contemporary dance.

Some of her noteworthy choreographies are '120 footsteps', 'Anguish', 'Six Circumstances, Short Story. Fragments and Walls of Memories among many others. She has performed at national and international festivals as a soloist and with her group Apoorva Dance Theatre which she founded in Bengaluru in 1994. She has worked collaboratively with Film makers, Visual artists and Musicians on cross art projects and performances. Tripura was also a teacher, performer and choreographer at Bhoomika Creative Dance Centre (Delhi) and a creative consultant for Dance-in Education program at Attakkalari Center for Movement Arts, Bengaluru.

Tripura pioneered Creative Movement Therapy in India in 1990. She is on the teaching faculty of Dance and Expressive Arts Therapy courses in Delhi, Bengaluru and Pune. She authored 'My body, my wisdom' a handbook on Creative Dance Therapy published by Penguin and was a freelance dance journalist for newspapers in Bengaluru. In 2014 she co-founded the Creative Movement Therapy Association of India (CMTAI)

This book emerged out of my research project, which was spread over two years (2011-13), and attempted to address the historical, theoretical, philosophical and practical considerations of contemporary dance in India. Many Indian dancers and choreographers have been exploring group' choreographies, apart from being predominantly solo dancers. Some are exploring their own personal movement language that does not belong to any style or form, to express their own stories and incidents from real life situations. Others are using indigenous folk, ritualistic or classical dance styles, as 'sources' from which they draw movement material to be used during the creative process of dance making.

I have included brief glimpses of choreographers and their works from different eras in the history of contemporary dance in India and abroad. Contributions of pioneering artists, such as Rabindranath Tagore, Uday Shankar and other younger choreographers, who consciously searched for new directions and approaches in Indian dance and attempted to expand its boundaries, have been addressed. Some discussions with present day Indian choreographers, who locate their dance work strictly within a single dance form, have also been included.

I have incorporated my own experiences as well as excerpts of views, and opinions of my contemporaries, who have explored new dimensions of this discipline. An attempt has been made to question and clarify how Indian contemporary dance is similar in principle, yet different in form and style from modern dance in the West, in terms of movement qualities, gestures, postures, spatial movements or footwork. Last, but not the least, accessories like indigenous costume design, themes, music, props, sets, lighting techniques and changing tastes of the audiences have also been considered in relation to the evolution of contemporary Indian dance.

Book's Contents and Sample Pages