Dance, Understanding, and the Politics of Perception

 Dance, Understanding, and the Politics of Perception

Now it’s a dance class—
training and practice on foreign soil,
but the exam, as always, in Bharat.

The last semester was all about dancing—
steps, rhythm, expression, and balance.
But the question that truly matters is this:
Can a person trained in Western dance forms
truly understand Bharatiya classical dance?

Technique can be learned,
but essence must be felt.
To grasp the soul of Bharatiya art,
one must move not just with the body,
but with bhava—with emotion, with devotion.

Yet, wherever one turns—left or right,
forward or backward—
the rhythm seems to stumble upon the same refrain:
Modi phobia.

Instead of harmony, there is dissonance.
Instead of dialogue, there is distortion.
When politics enters the dance floor,
even art begins to lose its rhythm.

May understanding, not prejudice,
guide our steps once more.

Joy Hind.