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She is a spellbinding force of nature, an artist whose movements are a symphony of grace and precision. Elegance and poise personified, her body fluidly sways in perfect time to the music, casting a hypnotic spell upon all who witness her dance.
We are speaking of Anandita Khan, a talented international dancer and indeed a gem to our country, creating magic with every move and inspiring us all to dance to the beat of our drum. With each step, she weaves a tapestry of emotions and tells a story that captures the heart and soul of the audience.
Photo: Asif Muhammed Musaddeque
In a chit-chat with the writer, she reminisces about her good old days of becoming a dancer. Anandita Khan's journey to becoming a world-renowned dancer was anything but planned. In fact, she stumbled upon dance 'by chance'.
"As a child actor in 2004, my director advised my mother to enrol me in dance class to enhance my body language and expressions. Taking the opportunity, I joined the class and never looked back. I was in class 2 then, and little did I know that this one recommendation would turn into my lifelong passion. I continued to dance with fervour and never left the dance floor," she said.
When asked how she prepares mentally and physically for performance, she believes practising is the key.
"To prepare for a performance, I usually memorise the dance routine first; then I keep rehearsing until the stage presentation. Also, until the performance, I keep remembering about it in my head, which helps me in many ways."
Photo: Asif Muhammed Musaddeque
She had the opportunity to try different dance practice styles or genres worldwide.
"I did workshops on Kathak, Bharatanatyam, Odissi, Sattriya, Jazz, Ballet, Mayurbhanj Chau, Kalaripayattu, Manipuri, Thangta, Raibeshe, Aerial Silk, Contemporary, Manipuri Theatre, and the list goes on."
Drawing inspiration from them, she created her style, incorporating the moves that resonated with her body.
"Like languages these forms also have different accents, so I receive only those moves/accents to which my body responds positively and effectively," she remarked on incorporating different dance techniques.
Anandita regards herself as a flexible person. Hence she can go with the flow in the constantly evolving dance world. According to her, "When there is a change around me, it affects my body and way of thinking also. So automatically in response to the changes, and in the contemporary process you let go yourself to the change. Wherever time leads us, we just go into the flow."
Though she has many performances to be remembered, the dancer eagerly recounted two experiences that had left a lasting impression on her.
"The first was the opportunity to perform in the choreography of the renowned Akram Khan company in 2020, alongside 23 other Bangladeshi dancers. For any dancer around the world he is like a dream come true," she shared, referring to Khan's reputation as a British Bangladeshi dance choreographer.
"The performance, which was created to mark the 100-year centennial of Bongobondhu, was attended by the Prime Minister and her family, making it a truly unforgettable moment for her."
Photo: Asif Muhammed Musaddeque
"Another memorable project is when I along with my creative director Asif Muhammed Musaddeque made a dance film for the project 'Begin Again.' This dance film was shown at the Hong Kong SWEAT Festival 2022 and Chicago Film Festival 2022."
"The title of the dance film," Anandita continued, "was 'Harmony of life.' I was the choreographer of the project and Asif Musaddeque was the creative director and also the Director of Photography. This dance film is now being used as a 'Course Material' in Delhi's Jawaharlal Nehru University and London' Kings College for Undergrad programs."
Clearly, the dancer's passion and talent have taken her to incredible heights in dance. She loves the crowd responding to her performance, and who doesn't?
"The response of the audience, full of excitement and fervour, their energy fuels my performance. The rush of performing for a receptive audience is unparalleled and propels me to the pinnacle of my abilities."
Anandita prefers not to preach or advise aspiring dancers, but she does share her thoughts on the importance of sincerity and discipline in the art.
"Enjoy your practice, but remember that every art has a beautiful discipline within it. Try to achieve that as well," she said.
Anandita Khan is currently in Ahmedabad regarding her recent project, Invisible Dance. Goethe-Institut and Conflictorium hosted Invisible Dance, a residency for South Asian and Southeast Asian performance-makers.
The laboratory focused on the body in friction, with artists presenting works-in-progress on April 28th. And she is the only Bangladeshi among the other eight participants from six different regions.