The young and dynamic Poorvi Bhave is a highly gifted Bharatanatyam dancer. She inherited the love for performing arts from her parents. Her mother is a classical singer and despite being a chemical engineer, her father has a keen interest in the arts. Hence, it was only a matter of time before Poorvi chose classical dance as her calling. She started learning when she was only 7 years of age and had blossomed into a performer by the time she turned 18. Now juggling her roles as a dancer and an actor, she has started her new endeavour 'The House of Nritya'. Here's an exclusive interview with her:
‘The House of Nritya’ is my brainchild, a dance academy, housed in the heart of Suburban Mumbai, Dadar. Talking about House of Nritya she further said, With a strength of enthusiastic students, my dance academy is an abode where I learn more than I teach. The House of Nritya is a reflection of a long-lived dream for which, I have had to surpass a lot of challenges and difficulties from time to time. The dance academy exclusively imparts training in Bharatanatyam style. I formed this academy with the solemn motive of inculcating the rich traditional culture and heritage of India through the means of classical dance.
On What Bharatnatyam Means To Her
"Bharatanatyam, in my opinion, is a source of expression that enables me to narrate a story when I dance, take on the roles of different characters through silent portrayals using body motions and gestures, and communicate internal emotions in a manner that reverberates with the audience. Bharatanatyam as a dance is a dramatic art form, often based on divinity with a vital devotional theme. It involves precision, which, if accomplished, gives you the independence to soar like nothing else. Bharatanatyam is one of those dance forms that embraces a combination of poses, emotions, movements, whether it is the protective Devi, mighty Muruga, or the familial Ganesha."
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Taking into account that you are a dancer, actor and that you wear many other hats, what does a typical work week look like?
"Whether you are a dancer, singer, painter, or an actor, without patience, passion, and unwavering interest in the art, nothing is possible. These are the same factors that drive me every day. Being a professional dancer, I train for 5 to 6 days a week, followed by rehearsals and performances from time to time. My work week starts and ends with practising, be it while teaching my students or choreographing a solo for YouTube. At the end of it all, I like going by the day as it unfolds and doing things differently each day."
What has been the biggest challenge you have come across in your career so far?
I consider setting up The House of Nritya as the biggest challenge as well as an accomplishment I have encountered in my career. Establishing a dance academy is every dancer’s dream, and for this, I have had to overcome the stressful times, challenges, and hurdles on several occasions. But at the end of it, with a lot of hard work, planning, and dedication, I could get through with it, and the results were more than gratifying. The trick is to embrace life’s difficulties in a positive way, especially when you love your work too much to let it go.
What has been your inspiration?
I grew up in a culturally rich family and witnessed my mother learning classical music at home from her guru. At the age of seven, I was introduced to Bharatanatyam by my guru, Dr. Sandhya Purecha. However, my natural affinity towards dance, particularly western ballet, commenced at the age of five. Destiny had a different plan for me, and over the years, my love for the sound of mridangam and the guidance of my guru led to my journey in Bharatanatyam. It was my mother’s and guru’s belief in me and my passion for dance that helped me touch greater heights. I was and will continue to be inspired by them.
What are your future plans?
My only motive is to represent this classical dance form and expand the reach of Bharatanatyam through The House of Nritya, not just nationally but internationally as well. I also look forward to collaborating with fellow dancers of the same or different genres to spread the name of Bharatanatyam and to create engaging content for the people world over through my YouTube channel. After all, dance, in any form, is an art and the stage is an incentive to innovate, create and exhibit our skills.
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