Looking back to three months ago…
The departure date for Japan was fast approaching and the team was immensely excited.
Clothes were most carefully ironed and laid flat in the suitcase. A thousand and one things like the mobile charger, inner wear and hankies, comb and brush, and what have you were neatly packed. Soon after the last-minute checks, everything in place, the suitcases were locked and keys stored carefully. The car moves slowly, inching towards the airport and after what feels like a lifetime… the announcement they were all looking towards. Slow taxing to the inevitable point of takeoff… the throttle opens… the aircraft lunges forward… and finally! It is airborne!
The team is looking out of the windows as various thoughts come all at once. “I hope everything goes off well” to “this should be fun!”. There are butterflies in their stomachs and a keen excitement for the weeks to come.
The troupe of creative minds presented a dance performance in 20 cities of Japan, titled Mumbai Star. The production tells the story of a young village boy, a talented dancer, who auditions for a role in a large Bollywood film, his encounter with his mentor, and the support he gets. Somewhere along the way though, he stumbles due to a swollen ego and is reminded of his humble beginnings.
All the shows were house-full and the musical received heartwarming appreciation from the audiences.
We chatted with Avantika Bahl, the experienced lead choreographer, on a variety of subjects. She spoke about the musical how it was rehearsed and reworked tons, a classy production which will be long remembered. Bahl has performed earlier at the NCPA, Kala Ghoda festival at Mumbai, Serendipity festival at Goa, Max Mueller Bhavan, Delhi, ITFOK in Kerala, India Habitat Center, among others. She has also taught Naseeruddin Shah and Rathna Pathak Shah some steps for their latest play, Old World.
Excerpts from a recent interview with the Mumbai based dancer:
Q. Tell us a little more about your background in dance and what attracted you to it?
A. I had always been inclined to dance and movement and was active in school and college. However, I got serious after I got the opportunity to take on teaching and learning professionally at a Jazz Dance Company in Delhi back in 2004. Over the years, my own interest shifted from performing Jazz to making work using the Contemporary Dance vocabulary.
Q. What does this particular show signify for you?
A. As my first international Musical, Mumbai star is extremely special. The entire team from cast to crew has worked hard to put this together and despite the tight timelines, we made sure that we kept the process fun, safe and value creating for everyone involved. Also working on this has been very different to what my own process is as an independent dance practitioner, so for me personally, the learning has been immense.
Q. What is your aim and goal as a choreographer and a performer? What do you hope to elicit from your audience?
A. My interest lies in making any performance as inclusive as possible. Over the years, I have challenged notions of what an equitable performance can be, how it can be accessed and who the audience is. I am interested in an honest, genuine connection with the viewer and for the performance to leave them with an experience they can carry back with them.
Q. Who was a major guiding force in your early years?
A. I was lucky to encounter many people who inspired me both as a performer and maker. From seniors, to contemporaries, I carried forward what I admired about their way of working into my own artistic process.
Q. What is the Min-on Concert Association?
A. Founded by Dr. Daisaku Ikeda, the president of the Soka Gakkai International, a Buddhist Organisation promoting peace and culture, The Min-On Concert Association promotes international music and performing arts exchanges. 2023 marks its 60th anniversary which is what makes this musical more special.
Q. Mumbai Star features a medley of Kathak, Contemporary, Hip-Hop and Bollywood – can you tell us a little more about your creative process and how do you structure your performances?
A. As the lead choreographer, I was in charge of overlooking the creative process for the entire musical. Since it is a story told in dance and movement, not only the main songs, but all the transitions were also choreographed. Uma Dogra choreographed the Kathak pieces while guest choreographers Krutika Mehta and Vivaran Dhasmana choreographed the Bollywood and Hip Hop respectively. The Director Nadir Khan was an integral part in collaborating on what the final vision of each choreography had to be.
Q. This is your first international show. How do you feel?
A. It is a great feeling to have your choreography travel to 20 cities across Japan to sold out shows. Everywhere the musical is showcased, the audience receives it with absolute love and joy and that is a great feeling.
Q. Do you have some advice you would give to budding choreographers/dancers and fresh graduates?
A. What is most important is to be able to define for oneself what drives their work, what interests them and what they want to communicate to the audience. And most of all, approach dance making with a sense of honesty and genuine curiosity.