Dance for the soul

Soumya Murali, pursuing Masters in Bharatnatyam at St. Teresa’s College, Kochi, shares her passion for the traditional dance form

I was always interested in dance especially Bharatnatyam from a very young age and have been pursuing it from the age of 3. This interest prompted me to do my Bachelors in Bharatnatyam following which I chose to complete my M A as well, as I believe one will have a mastery over dance only if one choses to specialise in it.

The two year course is divided into four semesters; in each semester, there is one theory paper and a practical paper and examinations can be written in English, Malayalam or Sanskrit. Although the main subject is Bharatnatyam, there are other subjects like history of Bharatnatyam, different types of ‘koothu’, natyas, mudras and so on. In the final semester, we are required to present our own choreography, depicting a story from the puranas and vedas.

For those who wish to pursue the subject, knowledge of dance is important. Similarly, one has to have an inclination towards dance to take it up as a subject of study.

The future of a Bharatnatyam student is not bleak as many think, for the career prospects are many. One can teach dance to aspiring students, either from home or enrol as a dance teacher in a school. After Masters, one can even take up a career of teaching the subject in colleges. Alternatively, one can open a dance school to pursue their passion for dance.

I have been teaching dance for around 60 students since my graduation and have given stage programmes, as well as performed in temples. The most memorable moment was performing Bharatnatyam for foreigners and tourist guests at a premier hotel, for unlike us, they understand and have better knowledge and interest in these dance forms. It is very fulfilling to perform for them. As for my future plans, I plan to open a dance school in Dubai, where there is great scope for the traditional forms of dance.

                                                                                    

                                                                                             As told to Sherene Joseph

 

Bust the myths!

With an objective to debunk the myths and to raise awareness about cancer, The Times of India in association with Joyalukkas, held an interactive session at SCMS, Kochi

On the occasion of World Cancer Day on 04 February, an informative and interactive session on cancer awareness and its myths was organised at SCMS College, Kochi, by the oncologist from Amrita Institute of Medical Sciences (AIMS).

Dr Neeraj Sidharthan, associate professor, Haematology/oncology and stem cell transplant, AIMS, spoke at length about the four myths associated with cancer and helped debunk them. He also spoke on the different types of cancer and its treatment. “Proper awareness and early detection is the need of the hour. Regular check-ups and a healthy lifestyle is equally important,” he said.

Nandana S, medical social worker at AIMS, discussed how one can help those affected by dealing with them normally and helping financially as well as through blood donation etc. Anie Teresa Joy and Ben Joe, PGDM students at SCMS, shared heart-warming experiences of visiting and interacting with the cancer patients at AIMS. P P Jose, executive director, Joy Alukkas, also spoke at the event. Samuel John, student at SCMS, proposed the vote of thanks.    
                                             

As part of the programme, the participants divided into 10 groups and painted canvas to express solidarity to the cancer affected.  They also set afloat about 200 balloons as a mark of hope and optimism to those affected by the dreadful disease. 

                      sherene.joseph@timesgroup.com

 

Build in style

Dr PP Anilkumar, head, department of architecture, National Institute of Technology (NIT), Calicut on the growing prominence of architecture 

Architecture, a medium through which people perceive the design and construction of buildings, is one of the most sought after professions today. With the advent of digital techniques available, the profession has undergone a drastic change but continues to act as a continuum of time and space. Off late, there has been a decrease in the creative aspect – earlier it was art driven but now it is technology driven.

Over 170 schools across India offer a Bachelor in Architecture. Admission to BArch is based on a student’s performance in the state entrance examination and national aptitude test for architecture (NATA). Institutions like NITs and IITs select students based their scores in the JEE main and aptitude test. BArch is a five-year course that comprises a six-month internship and a thesis. Among the many subjects taught in the course are architectural design, history of architecture, structural design, services (to a building) and futuristic subjects like green building, sustainability development.

Students who have completed their plus two in science with a good score in mathematics can opt for a BArch. Apart from this, an architecture student should have good visualisation skills and reasoning power, a sense of imagination, aesthetics and an eye for detail. Being artistic is an advantage but not necessary.

There is a huge demand for qualified architects today, and hence, a number of students pursue a post graduation in architecture. Among the many specialisations one can choose from are landscape architecture, urban planning, urban design, eco-friendly architecture and interior design. Alternatively, one can pursue a career in teaching at institutions that offer graduate and postgraduate programmes in architecture. 

The future of architecture as a career in India looks promising. A sound knowledge of digital technology is important as the modus operandi of the profession is changing rapidly. Similarly, vernacular architecture that respects the local system of architecture is also gaining prominence today. It is expected that in the coming years, a BArch degree will be at par with engineering and medical degrees.
                                                           

— As told to Sherene Joseph