Thaji Dias: “Best foot forward”

by Ruwini JAYAWARDANA

Source: Daily News
An Interview with Thaji

Her mission is not only to carry on the legacy of her grandparents,

Sri Lanka’s illustrious dance duo, Chitrasena and Vajira , but to nurture young talent as well. The graceful and gifted Thaji Dias started learning Kandyan dancing at the tender age of seven years. She excelled in her passion and is the principal dancer of the Chitrasena Dance Company as well as a dance teacher. She was felicitated in the Silver category for her exceptional contribution and achievements in the field of Arts and Aesthetics at the Genre of Excellence Professional and Career Women Awards 2013-14 organized by the Women in Management.

She was part of the production called ‘Celebrating diversity through Dance and Music’ at Kathiresan Hall around a month ago. It was a reconciliation project which was funded by CARE International and staged by the Chitrasena Dance Company. 51 artistes from the North and East joined the troupe.

She is preparing for a few tours abroad and some workshops with foreign artistes.

“Work continues to flow forward, much like life itself and I can only say that I am absolutely loving it!” the young dancer notes with a smile.

Thaji in a Kandyan Solo.
Picture by Lukshmanan Nadaraja

Q: Describe yourself in a few words.

A: Carefree. Not too opinionated about things. Quiet when I shouldn’t be. Passionate, driven and extremely motivated when it comes to dance.

Q: Does one need to have a certain knowledge in music or play a musical instruments to excel as a dancer?

A: I think that it would be an advantage to have some kind of training in music or a musical instrument for any kind of artiste. Music sensitizes you in many ways. Music has an amazing way of playing with your emotions and your mind no matter where you are. It is a very strong medium of expression. It is something I cannot do without whenever my mind is idle. Having musicality is extremely important for a dancer. Each individual would interpret and hear music in different ways. But to hear it right with all the nuances is not something that everyone can master and I’m sure it would be helpful to have some kind of training or introduction to music at some stage.

Traditional Sri Lankan dance, which is what I specialize in, has no music tradition interwoven in it unlike in Indian classical dance forms. Traditional Sri Lankan dance forms are only performed to drums and as students it was compulsory for us to learn the drum, as our dance forms have a very deep connection to its respective drum and the drum beats.

Q: What is your first memory with dance?

A: My first memories of dance would be at a rehearsal done by the Dance Company at Kalalaya. I was six or seven years old. My mother was part of the touring company back then and so were my aunts, my sister and cousin. I remember wanting to be a part of the rehearsal and whenever any of the members got absent for rehearsals I used to willingly fill in their places. I knew all the choreography by heart. I used to very seriously par take in all the pieces. It’s too cute when I think back on it.

Q: Who is your greatest inspiration and why do you admire him/her?

A: It is not just one person but a group of people who make up the Nrityagram Dance Ensemble of India. They specialize in an Indian classical dance form known as odissi. They live in a village of Dance which is one hour away from the city of Bangalore. They are the epitome of perfection and truly live and breath their art form. Their Artistic Director Surupa Sen, Principal Dancer Bijayni Satapathy and Managing trustee Lynne Fernandez run this Dance village and nurture many young and budding dancers under their guiding light. The connection we share with Nrityagram has indirectly molded me into the dancer I am today. They are truly my inspiration so much so that the whole Chitrasena family does a trip to Nrityagram once a year to harvest some good energy, be with loved ones and gather some much needed inspiration to move forward with the work that we do.

Thaji Dias. Picture by Christopher Rebert

Q: What is the most memorable incident you have faced during your dance tours.

A: The most memorable moment would be performing at the Joyce Theatre with The Nrityagram Dance Ensemble in New York. We were part of a collaborative performance done by the Nrityagram Dance Ensemble called ‘Samhara’ (The braid). The New York premiere was at the Joyce Theatre. It is a venue that many reputed artistes and companies have performed at. It was anyway a nerve wrecking situation to be performing in New York at the Joyce with these amazing dancers. Then we learnt that Mikhail Baryshnikov is in the audience! First he casually turned up at our press conference to click pictures and then he came for the performance and was actually seated in the audience with reputed dancer turned choreographer, Mark Morris! It was just too much to actually be performing in front of artistes you have grown up watching videos of day in and day out. They are gods of dance! Backstage after the performance they were falling at our feet and we at theirs. It was truly a ‘comedy of errors’ but one I will never forget all of my life.

Q: If you had not been a dancer, what profession would you have chosen?

A: I might have been a veterinary surgeon. I adore animals. Mostly dogs but I admire and feel affectionate towards other kinds of animals too. However I do understand that as a veterinary surgeon you might have to be open to handling exotic animals and slithery creatures too. I am not quite open to that!

So maybe rather than being a surgeon I would have been a caregiver. If I had the space I would have had a dog sanctuary at home in my back garden even now. I already own two dogs who occupy the whole strip of garden in our house and bringing in even one more might see me having to vacate my home.

Q: If you could meet any dancer or choreographer in the world, who would you choose to meet and what would you ask him/her?

A: Well, in my opinion I have already met the best dancer and choreographer in the world! I have performed with them! I have lived with them! They are not just mentors. They are friends, They give the most sensible advice, they have the best stories to tell, they are goddesses who I have had the privilege of performing with on the same stage.

Nrityagram is a unique place with extraordinary people. Every dancer should visit Nrityagram at least once in their lifetime. It’s not only because of how flawless they are on stage but also because of how great they are as artistes and as human beings. I feel truly blessed to be a part of their lives!

Q: Tell us a bit about your diet and lifestyle.

A: I am at a age where it is not too difficult to burn fat and I dance A LOT! So I can pretty much eat anything. I eat whatever is there at home but I do not overeat. There is a limit of food that my body can take and no matter what I always stop at the limit. I try to avoid sweets at night but if there is something as yummy as a Sits/Green Cabin Chocolate cake then I cannot resist. I love Brinjal prepared in moju style and I sometimes eat it just without anything at all. I am not a fan of any form of potato.

My day begins with a walk and jog or a body conditioning class which is followed by a Kandyan technique class. If it’s performance , then the technique class is followed by rehearsals. Warm up and warm down is essential and it is something we cannot do without before and after a technique class or rehearsal.

Q: How is Kandyan dancing received all over the world today?

A: It is received better abroad than in Sri Lanka. Not just Kandyan dance but all forms of traditional Srilankan dance is something that is extremely unique to our country. But they do say you do not appreciate what you have until you don’t have it anymore. My grandfather did say that dance should be left to die a slow death if it cannot be done in the manner he did it or presented and preserved in an even better way. We do really take that to heart sometimes when we see the path that dance is taking in this country.

We’ve had rave reviews and standing ovations around the world but in Sri Lanka we struggle to find support to do just one big production a year. When we do that once-a-year performance the venue is overflowing with people. It almost feels like they have been starved of good work. It’s not just about support but also the manner in which shows are presented by dance institutions. Our audience is educated enough in the arts to figure out what’s good and bad so they cannot be fooled.

Most artistes try to get away with doing low rehearsed, shallow work on stage. Rehearsing the day before and performing the next day has kind of become a trend. There is such uninspiring work that happens in this country in terms of dance that I hardly am motivated to go and see any performances. Firstly, artiste ethics and discipline need to change and then we can talk about the audience. There is a young pool of talent out there waiting to be inspired and drawn into these unique forms. It would be sad to see them go astray.

Q: What are your thoughts on reality shows focusing on dancing?

A: I do not believe in reality shows that focus on dance. For me dance is not a competition. It is life itself and something extremely sacred. So, no I wouldn’t want to become a judge at any of these reality shows! Maybe a reality show is another way to find talent but my biggest problem is in the way it’s done.

From the judgments, to costumes, to lights and then to the performances itself, it just projects something that is really shallow and carries no weight. I wonder if the people doing these reality shows do not watch what happens abroad. Their standard of dance and music is just unimaginable!

Firstly all the participants have a solid training in one dance form and then their choreographers are masters in their respective art forms. If these reality shows are to continue here then they need a lot of sprucing up. If not for me I see it as just a waste of time and lots of money where people dance purely to seek fame and attention. It’s sad but it’s true.

Q: Would you ever consider acting or performing for a dance item in a movie if the opportunity came your way?

A: You would NEVER see me being a part of any commercial film in this country. If I did get the opportunity I would only work with the best of the best and there are only a very few directors in this country that I consider to be good so there isn’t many to choose from anyway.

Acting is a completely different profession and I do not have the time to invest in another completely new profession. But I do believe that it is always good to experience different forms of art and different forms of connecting with an audience. Every experience comes with a lesson and this kind of experience would be a challenge for me. So if something extremely interesting comes my way then MAYBE….