Where rasikas can meet

SHE IS media shy and visibly ill at ease talking about herself. "May be, that is the reason I have lost out on opportunities to make it to the top," rues Lakshmi Ramaswamy, a young Bharatanatyam dancer. Disappointed she is, yet holds no grudge against her art, which she continues to pursue passionately. "If one decides to make a career in art, one has to be mentally prepared to face uncertainties and undergo hardships," she says matter-of-factly.

After almost 15 years of training in Bharatanatyam under Kakukkurichi Venkatanarayanan, Nanchil Mani, Indira Krishnamurthy and Chitra Visweswaran and recognitions in the form of Krishna Gana Sabha's Balasaraswathi Endownment prize and Yuva Kala Bharathi title by Bharat Kalachar, today, the danseuse fulfils her artistic urge by teaching at Mudhraalaya, her dance school, actively participating in Guru Chitra Visweswaran's dance productions and most importantly, through art education.

The six-month art and management studies at the Golden Gate University in California, courtesy the Fulbright Fellowship, was an eye-opener for Lakshmi. "At the end of the course, I felt I had matured both as a person and an artiste. It's actually our mindset that has narrowed our perception of the arts. There are immense avenues opening up for the dancers, which means there is now hope for many like me," she explains optimistically. And goes on to add that a holistic approach towards art is the need of the day. Besides practical training and theoritical knowledge, artistes should also develop managerial skills, like fund- raising, backstage arrangements, public relations etc.

"I realised it during my learning years at Chitra akka's (Chitra Visweswaran) Chidambaram Arts Academy. Like in any other field, today only artistes who are thorough professionals will stand out".

Based on these modern realities of art, Lakshmi's study at the Golden Gate University particularly focussed on 'PR and fund- raising'. She attended art education classes and worked on several related projects in collaboration with various dance companies in the U.S.

"Most of these ballet companies have full-fledged management teams, which besides arranging a good and appreciative audience for the shows, also conduct surveys to ascertain people's likes and dislikes. By adopting these skills, we can do wonders with our rich artistic heritage," she feels.

Lakshmi herself has made a beginning in this direction. She will soon start a 'Rasikar Sangam', an association of people interested in attending dance programmes. Like Anita Ratnam's dancers' directory, this will be a rasika's directory, complete with their addresses, phone numbers and e-mail addresses. Artistes can inform the members of the sangam about their performances and ensure an audience comprising real rasikas.

A small step it may be. But for those who are raring to go despite odds, only sky is the limit.

Lakshmi can be contacted at 4422332 or lakshmiramaswamy@eth.net.

CHITRA SWAMINATHAN

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