SEARCHING FOR MY SOUL — A Journey With Dance & Music
Dr. Poorva Shah M.D.(Dermatology), Consultant Dermatologist
“The Biggest Thing That Classical Dance And Music Does To You Is Help Attain Balance Between Mind & Soul” … Pandit Birju Maharaj ji
And never have truer words been said about Indian Classical Dance and Music. I started my formal training in Kathak at the age of 5 under renowned Kathak & Odissi danseuse Guru Smt. Yogini Gandhi. She was a perfectionist and believed immensely in that perseverance is the key to it, thus pushing me to develop discipline, confidence & poise. As I was training in Kathak, my family was keen on me learning Hindustani Classical Music too. Thus began my training for the same simultaneously under Pt. Sudhakar Chavan at the age of 7.
Studying these art forms at such a young age, shaped and developed me beyond me or my parent’s imagination. Not only did it give me a sense of maturity, but I was also exposed to the beautiful world of poetry and literature. “Katha Kahe So Kathak Kahave” being the eternal philosophy of the Kathak that I was coming to love, it made me a true storyteller through my dance and music. The training in both Kathak & Classical Music at the same time helped me have a clear diction for the bols and sargam. The wondrous use of math in these art forms in learning rhythmic patterns, learning to play with rhythm, the footwork in dance, recitation of complex bols in dance and sargam in music all helped sharpen the mind right from my childhood.
As I went on to become a dermatologist, the main challenge was to seek a balance between my medical studies and my riyaaz/practice and performances. But with the undivided determination and support from both my gurus, parents, professors at medical school and close ones I was able to study as well as give time to Sadhana. Because of the early exposure to performing on stage, I was able to develop confidence and yet remain grounded & humbled thanks to my Gurus. Also, one of the most important aspects of learning Dance at such an early age was the way it shaped and defined my body, attributing to my fitness and keeping me toned as well as increasing my stamina and endurance. The stamina, endurance and resilience as a dancer and musician helped me immensely in almost every situation in life, right from my childhood, through the gruelling 10 years at medical school, through my pregnancy until today.
To dance or to sing is pure wanderlust. I feel blessed to have both these art forms as a part of me for the past 25 years ! A dancer’s journey is all about exploration of self through a unique sync of movements that others see and sense as beautiful. It is painstaking yet diverse and an artistic way of reaching God spiritually and emotionally. My relation with both Kathak and Hindustani Sangeet changed me in its entirety. It made me value the freedom as well as our culture and heritage. It also made me realise the inner and real me. I felt a strong connection to my body, heart and soul using dance as a form of expression and music as the language. And I’m blessed to bring it each day in its whole to me and my loved ones.
