Traditional dances help keep Indian culture alive

By Indrawattie Natram

Indian culture is nurtured and expressed in many ways through various stories and exhibitions outlining the life and work of Indian ancestors, for example. However, one significant way it has come to be maintained has been through traditional dances.
The Swarswattie Dance Troupe on the Essequibo Coast, which is known for promoting  Indian culture through traditional folk dances, continues to play an essential role in sustaining Indian culture through dance.
Head of the dance troupe, Sursattie Singh, aka Annie, said traditional folk dances done by her group of dancers reawaken the Indian cultural identity. The 25-year-old dancer explained that the dances trace ancestry paths, with benefits similar to reminiscing or invoking “memory therapy”. She said Indian dance pieces were brought from India and remained in Guyana; as such, they should be kept alive.
Singh, who has been dancing for the past 16 years, said the involvement in folk dances facilitate a growth of confidence, and a forum to express ancestral paths. “I have a really strong passion for dancing,” she declared.
“The opportunity to express oneself and keep the culture through the medium of dance holds the benefit of keeping the culture alive. It’s a true blessing to be able to express the thoughts of your ancestor,” Singh told Guyana Times Sunday Magazine.
She noted too that dancing makes you physically fit, explaining there is an improvement in balance, strength and gait when one starts dancing. “Dancing makes you feel alive; like you’re young again. I don’t know anything else that can have that effect on you.”
Shedding some light on her dancing life, she recalled that she had begun dancing at 10 years old. She said she was always inspired by a popular local dancer Premie Naipaul who motivated her to start dancing. Singh, who eventually developed the enthusiasm for dancing after a few months of vigorous practice, said her parents weren’t too keen about her taking up dancing as a career.
Sharing her first time dancing on a stage, she said she started to dance in front of the crowd when fright grew inside of her and she paused.  She said though she was not at all embarrassed, that motivated her to move even deeper into dancing.
Recounting, she said she started to look at simple Indian dance films, where she learnt a few dance movements. The lover of dance said she and her cousins used to dance, and by dancing often she realized that she was becoming good at it, and, as such, she decided to form her own dance troupe. In 2003 her dance troupe “Annie Dance Troupe” was established, now renamed The Swarswattie Dance Troupe.
She said because there was a need for more movement in dancing, she joined the Dancing School in Spring Garden where she acquired more dancing skills and techniques. Her motive behind the classes was to introduce new dance moves – mostly traditional dances, to the group.
Today Annie holds her own dance classes every Sunday at the Anna Regina Kendra where she teaches young girls and boys to dance. Annie said nothing gives her more pleasure than teaching children dances that were inherited from their Indian fore parents.
Her group of 11 dancers are involved in some of the most energetic forms of dances. Pointing out that mainly young people make up her group, she said the group dance to songs that provide the opportunity for self expression and recall their Indian heritage.
Her dancers perform traditional Indian dances which, in most instances, describe the roots of the Indian indentured immigrants. She said the dances are extremely simple, with minimum steps or movements but burst with verve and vitality. The traditional dances are done by both female and male dancers.
Explaining the folk dances to Sunday Times magazine, Singh stated that the dances are performed by young girls and boys who move in a circle, creating a rhythm through special foot movements, while striking each other’s wooden sticks. She said sometimes the performances may be lengthy as the singer increases the momentum until the song reaches its climax.
She noted that it takes days to train the dancers, and described the task as tedious, where the rhythm must be in line with the sticks; otherwise it makes an ugly noise.
Her dance troupe performs these folk dances especially during Indian Arrival Day celebrations or at special occasions that relate to the Indian arrival in Guyana.
Singh, who also designs the dancers’ costumes, said they are mostly brightly coloured, simple and opulent, with many styles being ornately decorated. The garments are mostly made with cotton and sometimes silk, richly decorated with gold beads and glitter.
The dancer said sometimes securing sponsorship for her group’s costumes is tiring; however, she thanked local business entities for always supporting her. Singh said for most of the simple shows, she uses her own money and sews the outfits herself. Additionally, sometimes when there is a big show and the dancers have to perform, she would usually find it difficult because it clashes with her work schedule. However, she said, she is proud off her dance and the dance troupe, and enjoys doing it.
Her advice to her fellow dancers is to keep on dancing and focus on their goals, “Keep on practicing and you’ll be perfect one day,” she advised.