Dancing through life

HILE most toddlers were learning to perfect the art of walking, Kymmona Maharajh was dancing.

She began with ballet and by the time she was 7 years old she had started Bharatanatyam, followed a year later by Kathak.

The 31-year-old, pictured, is a member of the Nateshwar Dance Academy.

She chats to JOLENE MARRIAH about her love for dance and the future of Generation Z.

What sort of dance do you perform?

I perform mostly in the Indian classical styles of dance as well as modern day Bollywood, but I have attended dance camps and workshops to allow myself to become a more versatile artist.

I hold a qualification in North and South Indian Classical Dance, also known as Kathak and Bharatanatyam respectively.

Who or what inspired you to get into dance?

It was my mother’s dream that my father brought to life.

When my parents had married, my mother indicated that if ever she were to have a daughter, she would want her to learn the art of Bharatanatyam that she had once witnessed on a tour of India.

However, being too young in age, I was enrolled in ballet and later the South Indian classical dance class.

Which school of dance do you attend and what are some of the notable productions you have participated in?

I trained in Bharatanatyam at the then Cato Manor Tech College with Kumari Vijayanthimala Naidoo.

And I learnt the art of Kathak with Shrimati Smeetha Maharaj at the Nateshwar Dance Academy.

I was actively involved in the Chalo Cinema series, Sunghursh, Ram & Sita’s Wedding with the Nateshwar Dance Company, as well as Bayview to Bollywood with Pubern Padayachee.

I also worked with Llianne Loots of the Flatfoot Dance Company in Bhakti during the Grahamstown Arts Festival.

The South Africa Indian Film and Television Awards (SAIFTA ) was another great production, affording me the opportunity to dance among A-list Bollywood stars.

Dancing on stage can be challenging, what are some of the challenges you face? And how do you manage to keep on top of your game?

I have a slight eyesight problem, so I don’t get nervous because I can’t see the audience, LOL. Just kidding!

Performing a solo would be a challenge. However, whatever the size of the stage, as an artist, I would want to keep my audience captivated all the the time and not allow them to sink into boredom, by ensuring that the movement of my dance flows with grace,

The usage of stage keeps the audience’s sight fixed on me and ensures that my feet can be heard and my facial expression seen.

A challenge accomplished, but a challenge nonetheless, and the best way to keep on top of this is to PRACTISE! PRACTISE! PRACTISE! It won’t make you perfect, but it will certainly make you better each time.

Has your dancing afforded you an opportunity to travel overseas?

Yes it has! I have travelled to India to further my studies in Kathak, to perform in the Pravasi Bharatya Divas (concerning the Indian Diaspora), participate in the Dance India Dance Season 4 auditions, and to perform in The Festival of India hosted in Poland.

How important is keeping Indian culture alive to you?

It’s of the utmost importance. Indian culture defines the root of my identity. It has served as a guidance to my life’s journey.

It has groomed me to understand, embrace and respect all other cultures.

Keeping culture alive, in any belief, is crucial, as it gives one the initial route to one’s map of life and the world.

Do you think many young people today share this vision, and where is this evident, from your point of view?

I strongly believe that there are some youth who share this vision; however pinpointing evidence for this is difficult.

Youth of the Generation Z have been so drawn into technology and the internet that they find it easier to learn a dance virtually, as opposed to the physical teachings that offer the on-hand guidance and techniques I grew up learning.

I am grateful for the many dance gurus that still continue to give dance lessons in their respective schools, ensuring that this aspect of culture still keeps burning bright.

How do you balance a career with dance?

I have been asked this question numerous times.

There was a point in my life when my weekday consisted of work from 8am-5pm, dance rehearsals from 6pm-10pm, studies from 11pm-1am, concluding with sleep from 1am-7am.

Weekends sometimes I had dance from 9am-9pm on both days.

Since then, I have had to resign from work to complete my studies, which gives me more flexibility with dance as well. What are your hobbies? DANCE!!! It started out as an extra-curricular activity and grew into a profession. When I am not dancing, I am travelling, ‘beaching’, being an adventure junkie, engaging in my mental creativity, reading, camping, watching movies, tasting foods of exquisite delicacy with my mates, laughing loudly (yes, not many people do this),trying to learn a language and engaging in ‘me-time’.

Family life? Tell us about your family and how you spend time together.

I have two adorable nephews with a nibbling on the way who reside with my brother and sister-in-law in Tshwane (Pretoria).

So I do take time off, when I can, to spoil them. I have a hairstylist for a mum. My dad passed away recently, so I try to have many ‘girly times’ with her. My dad was a Hindu priest and a travel agent and ensured that both us siblings got bitten by the bug, resulting in family vacations locally and internationally as well as the seasonal camping trip, 3pm tea-time, 8pm Bollywood movie and birthday cake.

Do you plan on one day teaching dance?

I’ve been teaching dance every day, since I could dance, because it’s always fun to dance with someone. Professionally I would teach the choreography to a mate who couldn’t get the routine. Every day is a dance lesson. Unknowingly your body moves differently, your heart beats to a rhythm, your feet step to some routine, you feel emotions, your face expresses these emotions. It’s all a dance. As far as having my own institute, that would be lovely!