Lavani is all about shringar and abhinaya: Shakuntalabai Nagarkar

For years the art form of Lavani has been looked down upon often unfairly For a folkart form that traces its roots to the 18th Century it still has a niche audience Shakuntalabai Nagarkar has sought to change it over the last five decades Growing up in the Bhatu Kolhati community Nagarkar learned from her mother Chhabu Bai Nagarkar who stepped on to the stage ldquoIt was not an easy world back then There were struggles but the art form was enmeshed in village liferdquo she recalls over a phone call from PuneFrom left Chandrakant Lakhe Pushpa Satarkar and Gita Waikar at a performance of Love amp Lavani Pics CourtesyKunal VijayakarThe Punekar will helm workshops at Bandra and Juhu venues as part of the Lavani Week ldquoIt is not an easy dance form But the girls today are skilled and quick to learnrdquo the veteran remarks The workshops cohosted by theatremaker Bhushan Korgaonkar are also a sign of the changing perception of the art ldquoEven women looked down upon lavani performances But slowly artistes like Surekha Punekar and myself among others changed thatrdquo she adds A glimpse of their lives and art will also be on display as part of a vibrant photo exhibitionSilk and steelFor Nagarkar the stage was always going to be her world She had grown up learning the songs and watching performances ldquoMy mother insisted I learn Kathak to strengthen my footwork I remember learning it to understand the movementrdquo she reveals Her first performance was in 1971 at Parli Vaijnath in the Beed district ldquoThe audience was perceptive Tamasha and Lavani were the only forms of entertainment There was no cinema going culture thenrdquo the Sangeet Natak Akademiawardee recallsA frame from the photo exhibitionMuch later she would join the New Hanuman Theatre Troupe in Lalbaug ldquoI have watched performances at Shivaji Park in the Pila Haus PlayHouse theatres of Kamathipura in Grant Road Even in Mumbai the audience understood and encouraged the art the sangeet and the taalrdquo Nagarkar explainsldquoWe insisted on Baithaki Lavani a form of Lavani that involve a focus on expression and music rather than the other controversial formsrdquo This did not always bode well ldquoYou learn to deal with itrdquo Nagarkar laughs reminiscing over times when the audience would correct their movements ldquoI would simply turn to them and say lsquoWhy donrsquot you show mersquo and sometimes they would We would watch and say amongst ourselves lsquoThatrsquos actually not badrdquo she reveals with her signature sassSkill and styleOver centuries Lavani has evolved into many forms such as Shringarik Lavani expressive dance Padachi Lavani performed as a theatrical performance Nirguni Lavani a philosophical performance and Baithaki Lavani In recent years it has acquired an interest across genders and sparked scholastic studies too However it still relies on artistes with skill and charmThe latter is Nagarkarrsquos forte At 65 she retains the seamless ability to transform into a playful flirtatious muse the moment she steps onto stage in full regalia ldquoLavani is all about shringar and abhinaya beauty and expression I have watched and been spellbound by Lavani artistes who never moved around the stage They could cast a spell with just their eyesrdquoThis lsquoadaarsquo Nagarkar explains is more important than any technical move ldquoYou may look beautiful but if you lack adaa what is the point of that beauty This is the little nuance I try to teach anyone who wishes to learnrdquo she smilesON April 12 and 13 10 am BKC April 17 Juhu 7 pmAT NMACC BKC Prithvi Theatre JuhuLOG ON TO nmacccom prithvitheatreorgCALL 9892009357Cost Rs 600 for workshopLavani in the cityRang Birangi LavaniDynamic modern stories told in Lavani formON April 11 730 pmAT NMACC BKCLavani photo exhibitionON April 17 all dayAT Prithvi Theatre JuhuLavani ke RangA show about the world of Lavani dancersON April 17 5 pmAT Prithvi Theatre JuhuLove amp LavaniA musical on the life of artiste Shabana AshturkarON April 17 8 pmAT Prithvi Theatre JuhuatOptionskeyd0ddb8ef8f1a62a8cdd22fac27fc5ea7formatiframeheight90width728params