Know her
Blending Indian classical with contemporary dance forms has always been a passion for Chitra Arvind. Chalana, a classical and contemporary dance event organised to aid the hearing-impaired, is what has taken her to a secure place in her dancing career.
The Year That Was
Being “one of the most productive years” of her life, 2013 saw Chitra tour the US with her unique style of dance forms. She taught dance techniques and choreography to the students of the University of California during this tour. She also participated in the some of the major dance festivals in Bengaluru.
“I realised different ways in which I could teach a particular dance form during that tour. That helped me evolve as a teacher,” says Chitra.
The Year ahead
The following year will see Chitra go on an India tour with her project, Flight From The Shadow. She will also be starting a campaign to aid elderly abused people, where she will bring in different artists to perform with her for the cause.
Her life’s emblem
Expression and movement associated with any particular dance form is what Chitra can relate to the most. “I feel that the expressions and movements lead to aesthetic experiences and that is what I can relate to the most,” says Chitra.
The High
Receiving the coveted National Nritya Shiromani Award at the Kathak Mahotsav in Orissa is what has elated her the most in 2013.
The low
Even the best performances she gave in the past year left her unsatisfied. “Improvisation is the key to sustain a long and fruitful career. That is exactly what I learned in the year 2013,” says Chitra.
— as told to Arka Sengupta
