Contemporary Dance and Movement Art Training from Creative Director of Aramandi To Attitude (ATA)

Find out more about Pritha

• Tell us more about your subject. How did you develop an interest in this field?

  I enrolled in a Bharatanatyam class at the age of 8 and it was expected to be my extra-curricular pass-time. As is evident now, it wasn't: I loved each and every thing about dancing and wanted to learn more and create my own movements. So, I started learning more creative improvisational forms like Indian modern dance techniques (Uday Shankar Technique). In the following years, I delved into Ballet, Jazz, and Kathak. Simultaneously, I was an undergraduate student of Zoology at Presidency University (Kolkata). After completion of my BSc, I chose to pursue research in evolutionary biology at a research institute in Bangalore in 2014. Since then, I have been primarily delving into my personal movement arts research. At that time, I was introduced to numerous other movement art forms like Kung-fu, Kalaripayattu, Butoh, Parkour, etc.
  
  Over the time, I realized that I was interested in exploring the potential of my mind and body when it comes to creating and performing movements -- it could be to destress at the end of a long day, to create a movement piece, or a dance film. This took me along the path of researching methods of improvisation in movement arts and soon, I was working on my own contemporary movement technique based on my ongoing research. This is a technique where you learn to explore movements and choreographies -- one can practice this to address any of their goals: it can be to stay fit, destress, or train to be a professional movement artist. My friends and family would say to me "I have never danced and I have no idea where to start" or "I can never dance" or "I don't know how to make time for workout and dance". And I wanted to facilitate others in discovering the beauty of improvisational movement arts and how therapeutic it can be; I wanted to help people find ways of incorporating movement fitness practices in their daily lifestyle no matter how hectic a life they lead. It had been extremely liberating for me to accept the notion that I did not have to restrict myself to one particular style of movement and I was developing a technique to train my body and mind to not only create new movements but adapt any movement style in my practice.
  
  Along with this, I was continuing with my research in computational biology at the Indian Institute of Science where I was studying how choreographed movement patterns come about in animal groups (like flocks of birds, schools of fish, etc.). By this time, I was also keenly interested in photography and filmmaking.
  
  It became increasingly difficult for me to explain (to others) how and why I was so interested in an apparently diverse set of pursuits. For me, scientific research, movement arts and dancing, visual arts, etc. were all different ways in which I understood the world around me and they were different media though which my creative expression manifested (yes, designing a scientific research project requires just as much creative thinking and analytical skills as does for creating a choreography -- I am happy to discuss it further if you are not convinced!).
  
  I wanted to create a space for individuals who would have liked to explore this interdisciplinary creative way of thinking, break out of whatever is holding them back, and find their unique artistic expressions. This thought is at the core of our interdisciplinary creative community, Aramandi To Attitude which I co-founded in 2019 after years of thought into finding a path where all my interests intersect. Currently, I integrate my training in movement arts, scientific research, and visual arts to produce socially relevant creative work and pursue research to assess and reform pedagogical approaches with an aim to contribute towards a more equitable and empathetic society. As part of ATA, in collaboration with artists, thinkers, and scholars from all over the world we design and host workshops, classes, produce films, documentaries, stage shows, etc.

• What or who is the motivation behind you choosing to teach & why?

  My friends and family would say to me "I have never danced and I have no idea where to start" or "I can never dance" or "I don't know how to make time for workout and dance" or "I can never dance like a professional" etc etc. I wanted to design a teaching method to help individuals in discovering the beauty of improvisational movement arts and how therapeutic it can be; I wanted to help people find ways of incorporating movement fitness practices in their daily lifestyle no matter how hectic a life they lead. It had been extremely liberating for me to accept the notion that I did not have to restrict myself to one particular style of movement and I was developing a technique to train my body and mind to not only create new movements but adapt any movement style in my practice. This is a technique where you learn to explore movements and choreographies -- one can practice this to address any of their goals: it can be to stay fit, destress, or train to be a professional movement artist.

• How does your work help society?

  I integrate my training in movement arts, scientific research, and visual arts to produce socially relevant creative work and pursue research to assess and reform pedagogical approaches with an aim to contribute towards a more equitable and empathetic society. As part of ATA, in collaboration with artists, thinkers, and scholars from all over the world we design and host workshops, classes, produce films, documentaries, stage shows, etc. Funds raised from various sources support our project of addressing social, artistic, and gender justice in marginalized communities who have limited access to resources. We wish to create a safe, collaborative space for individuals to take creative risks, explore this interdisciplinary creative way of thinking, break out of whatever is holding them back, and find their unique artistic expressions.

• If you had to think of a role model for your work, who do you think of & why?

  I think my ideals, interests, goals, and actions are motivated and inspired by a huge number of people and their invaluable contribution to my life: from my teachers, family, friends, the artists, thinkers, and scholars I have grown up learning about, my mentors who supported my work in every way they could, to my collaborators who have breathed life into my work. Therefore, to point out ONE role model would be a disservice to the hundreds of people who are behind where and how I stand today and who I am today.

• Tell us about your hobbies outside teaching.

  Outside teaching, I watch films and listen to music (a ton of it), create choreographies, dance films, documentaries, and design stage productions, and I love to video journal my own movement practice, create visual portfolios for emerging artists, and work with local communities. I devote a large part of my time into creative coding and finding ways of bringing arts, tech, and society together.

• Do you have an anecdote to tell us about your student or professional life?

  Towards the later part of 2018, right before a few important professional commitments, I had an accident while training, and I partially tore three ankle ligaments on one leg. I was in a wheelchair for a month and had to learn to walk from scratch and undergo extensive rehabilitation workout. This was also the time when I had the space to take a break and contemplate my interests, goals, and also realize how privileged I have been to be able to pursue them. Those few months were a turning point in my personal and professional life and have defined who I wanted to be ever since.