Skip to main content

D se Dance, D se Dissent

By

Ghungroon ki jhankar mein hai takat, jo kalam se kam nahin
Nritya bhi hai ek kala pradarshan, jo layega badlav, kranti se kam nahin!                                                                                                                                                 -Nandini Suri

Poster created by Nandini Suri

It is difficult for a person to imagine the soft and lyrical movements of dance being used a form of protest. But, the fact is that every form of art is political and has the potential of bringing about a change. Dance is a beautiful language that has the power to express the deepest of emotions. By blurring the lines between everyday life, art and politics, choreography can serve as a beautiful medium of protest.
From Isadora Duncan, an American-born dancer and expressionist choreographer to the Indian dancer and activist Mallika Sarabhai, dance has been used by many, as an effective tool for social change. Chandralekha Prabhudas Patel was another Indian dancer, who used her dance as a form of social resistance. African slaves used dance to resist colonialism and as a means to resist cultural obliteration. Jamaican dance form flexing has evolved into a protest movement, to fight against social injustice, police brutality and racism. Lyrically satirical and humorous, hip hop dance has also been used to sound off against social evils.


Dance, which is rooted in the realm of aesthetics, also has the ability to venture into the area of politics.  An Instagram page called ‘cartoon_natyam’ is using the platform to throw light on the political and social issues plaguing the country and how dance can be used as a medium to bring about a change.

As the country quaked with protests over the last few months, against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and National Register of Citizens (NRC), many used dance as an instrument for social activism. India woke up to its young people, singing and dancing defiantly in order to galvanize mass support and stir the consciousness of others who chose to be silent spectators.
Dancers have articulated their stories of inequality, poverty and violence through their performances. Dance addresses specific political events and social codes and can contribute as an active agent of social change. Mallika Sarabhai’s work has been important in raising awareness regarding women’s rights. In her works, such as Sita’s Daughters and Swa Kranti, Sarabhai has used dance as a powerful yet sophisticated language to engage directly with social issues.

 Dance has the ability to present truth with nuance. From the LGBTI+ rights to the issue of plastic waste, from racial injustices and struggles to women’s issues, dance has always been an important force of change to reckon with.

 Dance movements express emotions. Dance movements express solidarity. Dance movements express change. Dance movements articulate dissent.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Remembering the Legacy of Safdar Hashmi: A Pioneer in Indian Street Protest Theatre

By
Street Theatre has been one of the earliest forms of theatre. Traditionally, artists have taken to the streets to express an opinion, make a socio- political commentary and inform the masses in laymen terms- their revolutionary ideas. One pioneer in this respect who took the Indian Street Protest Theatre scene to a recognisable level beyond a mere crowd was Safdar Hashmi. Theatre has always been a way of staging protests and illustrating to the layman, a message in an artistic rendition that they might not in lack of suspended disbelief, otherwise register. The year was 1973, when Hashmi, then a 19-year old, founded the theatre group Jana Natya Manch (JANAM Theatre) with fellow amateur theatre practitioners. With an aim to take the theatre to the masses, Hashmi came from a family inspired by liberal values and Marxist thought. He started theatre in college with IPTA (Indian People's Theatre Association) and left his government job as a lecturer after the period of the Emergency...
Post a Comment
Read more

Dissent: Land of the Free

By
America has been the cultural hot-pot that has given rise to multi-billion-dollar empires in music and movies. They are the global leaders in the entertainment industry. America has seen strong youth centric movements. Protest songs often skew liberal, and usually fall under two major categories: politically charged, topical songs taking issue with the government, or culturally focused songs aimed at injustices facing marginalized groups. This broad categorization gives songwriters a lot of leeway to experiment and even when no major political movement or cultural shift is happening, musicians can contribute to the canon with bold songs about smaller issues. The most famous protest songs date back to America's freedom struggle with “Yankee Doodle,” which is now popular as a children’s song , was actually written by British soldiers mocking the American counterparts during the Revolutionary War, but  Americans started singing the song ironical...
Post a Comment
Read more

Protest Music in India : Anthems for the New Generation

By
Historically, music has been an integral part of protests. Alongside slogans, music has always been one of the most exemplary forms for expressing dissent. Modern day India has witnessed extreme political unrest in the past year. From the abrogation Article 370 to the Anti-CAA & NRC protests, the citizens have taken to the streets to express dissent, in masses that have shaken up even the ignorant and the unaware. A significant part of the support comes from the music industry. Homegrown music acts like Seedhe Maut to Delhi Sultanate have churned out anthems based on political opinions. Unabashed, blunt and in your face lyrics make these a rage amongst the youth that chooses to protest and express one’s political opinion.  Amongst the many pieces of music released in India since December 15, listed below are some of the most popular ones. 'Scalp Dem' By Delhi Sultanate x Seedhe Maut (Prod. By Jawan) With the recent upsurge of hip-...
Post a Comment
Read more