Classical dancer Nina Rajarani on the beauty of unspoken communications

by ASJAD NAZIR

ACCLAIMED dancer Nina Rajarani MBE has had a glittering career that has seen her deliver incredible live performances all over the world.

The brilliant Bharatanatyam artist and choreographer has balanced a successful solo career with running her own dance school at Harrow Arts Centre since 1991. Her Srishti dance company also does touring productions and important outreach work.

This month the British dance hero returns to The Bhavan in London, where she learned her craft, for a rare solo Bharatanatyam performance.

Eastern Eye caught up with Nina Rajarani MBE to find out more.

How do you look back on your journey in dance?

With gratitude. I was lucky to have had the right people in my life to make me what I am. I also have a huge sense of satisfaction about my achievements and that I am selfmade. No influential people in my life, no one to promote me. It has been a tough and lonely journey. I have had a lot of negatives to deal with, which have made it extra hard to be accepted as a dancer.

How much does live performance mean to you?

It’s the reason I wanted to be a dancer -- I thrive on the unspoken communications between the audience and me.

What is the secret of a great live performance? 

To dance what you are most comfortable with and to choose material you can dance with conviction.

What has been your most memorable moment?

Although I was not actually dancing in the piece, it was as a choreographer winning the Place Prize in 2006. This is Europe’s largest choreographic competition sponsored by Bloomberg, which I won from among 204 entries.

Tell us about your forthcoming performance?

I will be performing a solo, classical Bharatanatyam recital of dance pieces I have choreographed to the music compositions of my husband Y Yadavan who will accompany me on vocals. This is my traditional solo work, which is what I love doing the most.

Who is your dance hero and why?

I have several, so it would be unfair to mention just one person.

You are also a teacher, how much joy do you get from that?

It is a mixture of pain and pleasure. A bit like how one feels about their own children. The satisfying part is to see the understanding, knowledge and appreciation of dance and music being passed on to the next generation.

Your advice for aspiring dancers...

If you want to be taken seriously, do it properly, giving dance the place it deserves. Dance is not a part-time thing for evenings and weekends where your main occupation is something else.

What is the greatest gift dance has given you?

The freedom to shape my working life the way I want, the ability to make every day, week, month and year different, and the privilege to be able to say that what I do for a living is what I love the most.

What else do you have on the way in 2020?

I’m planning to return with my company to India in December for a tour of five cities, funding permitting. I would like to present my ensemble work, which, with its modern themes and costumes, intrigued audiences in Chennai last December. Inspired by the great interest shown in my piece Bend It, I’m hoping to engage attention and support from a football club who would be attracted by the striking combination of soccer and Bharatanatyam, which is the theme of one of the pieces of the triple bill I propose to tour in India. I am working towards a new production called Sevens, which I will be creating and touring in 2020-21.

Today, what inspires you?

As has always inspired me, how hard dancers are willing to work.

Nina Rajarani’s solo show ekatA takes place at The Bhavan in London on February 29 at 6pm.

Visit www.bhavan.net