MONTREAL, CANADA, June 24, 2005: Traditional Hindu families encourage their children to learn classical dance or music as the art forms are a natural expression of their religion and culture. However, it has been found by many teachers that the techniques and repertoire are arduous for the contemporary urban child. In an effort to keep children interested in classical music, some teachers have developed simpler routines using traditional techniques that are a delight for the children to practise and master.
For example, Mamata-Niyogi Nakra in Montreal, Canada has fashioned a whole margam for the child. The article explains, “Mamata explores movement based on the gaits of animals in the Bharatanatyam mode for children. Using a traditional tillana in Paras as base, Mamata’s venture turned out to be a huge success enormously enjoyed by the children. Various workshops on how dance movement has been inspired by the movements of animals reinforced the feeling of being on the right path. Husband Harbans Nakra’s research into child psychology established that there was indeed a need for dance as education in all institutions. The final thrust lay in Mamata’s participation in the 1988 Conference in London of Child International (daCi) with the motto ‘Every child has a right to dance,’ and efforts to create a repertoire within the child’s range of experience, of short items with varied entrances and exit, and with humour, and set to simple tala structures began in earnest.” Along with Carnatic vocalist, O.S. Arun and a team playing the nattuvangam, mridangam, violin, flute and ghatam, Mamati created a multi-lingual margam that incorporates obeisance to Gods and Guru by opening with simple flower picking. For the padam, a child writes a letter to Nataraja thanking Him for creating the beautiful dance. The performance culminates in a tillana with animal movements.
Faubion Bowers comments on the finished product, “It comprises a religious foundation, mathematical intellectuality, formal structuralism and affectionate emotionalism. Aesthetically a more exhaustive art is hard to realize.”