MAGAZINE

Mitra clarifies what she means by the importance of tradition when she reveals what it is like to teach Indian girls who live in the USA. Dancing is helping these girls stay in touch with their cultural roots. For the most part they have been born and raised here and are brought up differently than they would have been in India. Because of this, they need more encouragement, not only from Mitra, but also from their parents to be disciplined enough to succeed in dance. "The reward is that by studying Indian dance and about its history and philosophy, and by performing at cultural functions, the girls become more connected to their roots and proud of where they come from. When they perform well, they get a lot of acclaim which indirectly encourages them to keep in touch with their culture proudly."

While sharing a bit of her k nowledge with me, Mitra explained that there are five different styles of Indian classical dance: Kathak, which is prevalent in the Northern part of India, Bhartnatyan and Kathakali which are from the South, and Manipuri and Orissi which are from the Eastern part of India. "Indian classical dance has its roots in spirituality. It follows the tenets of classical treatise in music called the Natyasastra which has been given to prosperity by its author Bharatmuni. Every step, every hand gesture, every posture, every facial expression convey a meaning according to the classical norm. There are nine different human moods represented, two of which are Sringar, which is love, and Hasya, which means laughter. There are ten different types of standing postures, which are called Mandala, and eight different types of gaits (walking) which are called Chari. The five different styles of Indian dance are dramatically different, yet they all follow the basic rules laid down by the Natyasastra."

Through her knowledge and vitality, Mitra encourages her Indian students to stay in touch with their culture. Yet her openness of mind stemming from her own cultural transformation as well as her creative background, understands the needs of these more modern and American students. It is also clear from this interview that as long as Mitra can dance and be with dance, she can weather through any changes that her life presents to her.