Bangalore based Kathak danseuse Sneha Nadella performed her full length debut performance at Seva Sadan auditorium in Bangalore on 28th August as part of the silver jubilee celebrations of Noopur Performing Arts Centre, headed by the dynamic Kathak duo Hari and Chethana.

In an exclusive interview with Guru Vijay Shanker, Sneha Nadella reveals as why she considers dance the best medium to reach out to the supreme, her involvement and as to how being a classical dancer has changed her perspective of life.

How did you get involved with dance?

As a young child, I was always fascinated about dancing. Hailing from Tirupati, I was the student of Iskcon school which ardently follows the cult of Vishnu (Vaishnavism) and I used to regularly watch a lot of movies. My favourite movies were K Viswanath's "Sagara Sangramam" featuring Kamal Haasan and Jaya Prada and "Mayuri" featuring Sudha Chandran, I used to be thrilled watching Jaya dance and used to wonder as to whether I could dance like her and whether there is any possibility of me becoming a dancer.

So this spurned a love for dancing while you were still in school I presume.

Yes, so while in school, I used to dance and also act in various dramas, but I could not learn dance in a proper systematic way and was craving to take up dance seriously, but Tirupati being a small town, I did not know what to do and how to go about it. After schooling, I enrolled myself for a degree course in Electronics and Communications from Sathyabama University in Chennai.

How did you meet your mentors Hari and Chethana?

I did see their YouTube performances and was quite fascinated and attracted to them and I enquired and came to know that they are based in Bangalore. While I met them I was already in my twenties and was wondering as to whether I could still learn as in classical dancing you start from a tender age but then Hari sir convinced me that if I am really interested and prepared to work hard with complete sincerity and honesty I could try and make it, he also narrated the story of Protima Bedi as to how she started late but with sheer determination and will power made it as a fine exponent.

Did your parents know you loved dancing and support you in this?

Initially I never informed my parents, as I was already working with a leading MNC company as a consultant, hence I had to get up early morning in order to learn Kathak. I was with little kids in the group but then that was a challenge and loved dancing always, so these little things did not matter. Later I sought individual attention from my mentors and today my dream has come true and I have become a professional dancer.

How do you manage your job?

If you are really interested, you can manage and for me dance is not just physical exercise, it is a form of worship, infact Kathak is a fine combination of divinity and arts, when I dance am in a different sphere both mentally and physically and that is really refreshing and rejuvenating, after dancing, I feel so good am able to concentrate on my work better. Infact I love to dance and you must do what you love, then only you will derive happiness. If you are happy, you can make others happy and not otherwise.

You were also doing a course in Electronics Engineering?

Yes, actually it was was doing a course in Electronics, I also met my future husband. He was studying for mechanical engineering, we became friends and ultimately got married. Besides my parents, he is my constant support.

What other interests do you have?

Watching movies and driving bikes, we have some common interests and that's the reason I gel well with my husband Surya.

Yours future aspirations?

Along with my mentors I have already performed for some of the most prestigious festivals like Nadaneerajam in Tirumala, Nrityotsav at Kochi, Swaralaya festival in Palakkad. Drishti dance festival in Bangalore, Keremane Shambu Hegde Rastriya Natyosavam at Honnavar etc. My desire is to learn more and perform better. Give happiness to everyone with my performances.

Interviewed by Guru Vijay Shanker

Guru Vijay Shanker is a professional Kuchipudi, Kathakali, Bharata natyam exponent, dance teacher, choreographer, actor and eminent arts critic for over four decades based in Mumbai. He can be contacted on email: vijaydance@gmail.com