(An Interview featured in the International Magazine on some defining moments of my life and a little background of how it all started)
Family : I was born to a middle class family on the 10th of April 1975 and am the 8th child of my parents Remedia and Xavier Lewis from Mumbai. Mum was a seamstress (working from home)and Dad was a worker at Modistone tyres. We were literally given the basics in food clothing and shelter and trained by both my parents to make the best what we had and never to complain. My parents firmly believed that if we had to escape the miseries of living a hand to mouth existence then it wd be thru being educated and getting white colored jobs that wd make us financial stable and garner respect in our community and hence education was top on that list. You see it was a deep rooted psychological thing with Mom and Dad that all their children be educated as some of their own siblings had treated them shabbily as they were not literate leave only educated and poor. So education along with religion(We had to attend church every day, say the family rosary together and confess our sins every Saturday- it was a set routine) ranked really high.
Discipline for a hard life ahead was ingrained even before we were born as I think we just followed systems that mom and dad set for us and if we did slip up there wd be a long lecture given after the rosary was said in front of the whole family and then we wd have to go down on our knees and ask for forgiveness to Jesus. This was done after we were thrashed black and blue if we fought amongst ourselves or got bad grades. Dance, or Sports was considered frivolous only a luxury for the rich and although they didn’t mind me dancing, it was made clear that if my grades dropped I wdnt be allowed to do anything extra curricular. As a kid I had already shown a strong inclination to the performing art- be it theatre, singing or dance and was a fiercely competitive kid so any challenge wd make my resolve even stronger. It was my drug.
Education : Did my 12th grade from St Xaviers college – a strict Jezuit college and was pursuing microbiology for two years when an entrance exam I had casually given in for hotel management got me a seat in the prestigious Institute in Mumbai and so I switched. Considering it was a diploma program then, my father was insistent that I shd do my graduation alongside and so I did distance |education and got my degree in Psycho |socio as my major and a diploma in Hotel Management after three years. I then did a certificate course in Fitness training from Progressive Fitness USA (they had branches in Mumbai
- Your love for dance. What inspired you to make it your profession? I have been told that anyone who can make their interest a career, are truly blessed. Your comments\
At the very onset of my childhood, I began to love the attention I received from my performances. Stage became my home and dance my second language.
The first time I performed I was 6 and after I finished I looked at all the faces that were looking at me and my appetitite grew from that day on. I became a stage whore. (sorry for that but its an original)
I agree that I am truly blessed that I love doing what I do and get paid for it. This is the biggest Gift
- What really is Contemporary Indian dance? Please explain the fusion.
Contemporary Dance is a term used for dance that speaks the language of today. It is an organic and more natural way of movement and the dance can be used to express all kinds of emotions, not just the happy ones. Better still the dance can be used to highlight a situation or even relive a moment. The possibilities are endless. Unlike Ballet or Modern dance, the choreographer and the dancer have to be subtle in the subject they want to express thru their body and movement. The viewer/audience has to be intelligent and educated enough to read between the lines.
- In which countries have you / your group performed or taught. Be elaborate
I have taught in Vienna primarily at the international dance festival called Impulstanz. We have performed in Braunschweig germany last year a modern contemporary dance piece. And this year we perform at the Cairo modern Dance festival. 2010 we will be performing in Paris too.
- What has been your experience taking Indian Contemporary Dance overseas? What have been the challenges and response?
It s been a real pleasure as the students are generally trained dancers and eager to learn. Using yoga and Indian classical dance motifs and fusing it with contemporary dance has helped many dancers better their own quality of dance and given them a wide vocabulary of movement. The use of the mudras and hastas with the yoga postures is an interesting way to find solutions to certain movements.
The response has been overwhelming as classes get booked in advance and the old students wait for me every year. The challenge lies more in the first few initial sessions as manipulation of the wrist is new to most westerners and also the use of breathe as we dance so as to find easier ways to move and be still be light After the first few session they feel completely at ease and find interesting ways to add colour and texture to their own performances.
- What are you future plans / aspirations for Indian Contemporary Dance? Do you see a place for it on the International arena? Do we have the talent in India to achieve it?
I have already started a Trust that helps fund the dance education of aspiring dancers thru a 1 yr diploma program that helps them with understanding dance and movement at a professional level. However dance still lacks support from parents especially with boys and many parents think it to be a hobby but not a a profession. \many good students and extremely talented danvcres succumb to the pressure as they are not financially independent and have to walk in their parents footsteps. My program is aimed at bringing back the dignity of dance back in the minds and attitude of people and we work hard at making our dancers financial stable and secure. I wish I cd teach Indian contemporary techniqyues all over the world and share this wonderful knowledge that wd help dancers tremendously/ Yes I see that in the years to come it will be an important aspect of training for every dancers – amust to be able to get their certicates as professional. To a certain extent yeas but the movement needs to be so large that the world take notice of it.
- What support do we lack? Can the Indian Diaspora (Indians overseas) help?
We need funding desperately as we have turned down students as we can afford only a few every year to be a part of the scholarship program. . A big rehearsal Space in Mumbai is expensive to maintain and rent out and although we have teachers willing to teach at marginal costs, that costs too Is a good amount every month . At present the professional company that has finished its training do commercial shows and part of the funds we receive goes to support the training program of the scholarship dancers so far. Its been a uphill struggle to maintain high standards and get the best teachers from all over the world who are willing and believe in us. The program is run under a trust that has been recently granted the status for receiving funds from indivuals and international companies. You can email us on tenterence@gmail.com for inquiries. Your support will guarantee that a talented boy or girl do not have to do call center jobs and other desk jobs to survive and can live with their dreams coming true.
