There is only one master in dance........

Master can we move here??? Master should we do this??? Master should we change??? Master should we eat???

Well now these days in Malaysia, especially Indian Commercial Dance scene, if you can coordinate two three dance steps, you will be given the title master...They regard themselves as choreographer and expect their fellow dancers to call them as Master....
Well let me give the definition of choreography here:

Choreography is the art of designing sequences of movements in which motion, form, or both are specified. Choreography may also refer to the design itself, which is sometimes expressed by means of dance notation. The word choreography literally means "dance-writing" from the Greek words chorea and writing. A choreographer is one who creates choreographies.

The term choreography first appeared in the American English dictionary in the 1950s.Prior to this, movie credits used various terms to mean choreography, such as "ensembles staged by" and "dances staged by".

Coming back so called Masters.....
These is the scenario
1) watch a movie, imitate the moves, tadaa its a choreography
2) Watch other groups, imitate the move, its another choreography
3) Go on stage , do syok sendiri dance, another choreography.

So where the heck these masters came from??? Aswara??? Temple of Fine Arts?? UM or UKM pusat kebudayaan???
Nope actually, these are the people who used to dance in schools and colleges. They dont have any basic in dance form, either classical or contemporary. Never heard of West End Production or Broadways.....

I have seen them so comfortable of what they do....One even had her dance T shirt printed with name as The Master....so lamelah.....

For you be recognised as choreographer you dont have to make others to call you one......we are not in India where dancers are engaged fulltime for 900 over films in a year...They can afford to have a dance master...but in Malaysia, Nee enna appadi perisa senjuttha???? 2 or 3 weddings shows per year??? some rundown events at Dewan Orang Ramai Bandar Tun Razak???

For me to be a master its an evolution ...from a dancer ( Revathy Sutra, Manju Fine Arts, Tina Asthana, Segar Era) to choreographers ( Radhimalar Sutra, Shankar TFA, Laksman Aswara, ) to an artistic director ( Ramli Ibrahim Sutra, Roopalavanya, Pamela Laya, Indran Era, Gayathri Dance Exchange)...and there are many more. So it takes not only one journey but few to improve yourself in dance and performing arts world..... and to get the due recognition....

A choreographer does only think about dance, but the dancers, the welfare , the brand, the attitude, the presentation and more.....So there are some dungus, who thinks they can choreograph, then they can be par to MJs choreography .....
Let me share...last 11th October, Asthana did an opening and three more dance item for Swan Stage Productions Deepavali event at Sivic Centre PJ. As usual the Asthana did the creative fusion Mahaganapathy, first time choreography for Colonial Cousin's song, MJ medley and Jai Ho....Then there was this another group...It seem the leader did so many local film choreographies.....With their DIVA attitude, the group did tried something on stage...infact the leader was bit snobbish with " rajasthan mix slovakian" english slang.....

Then this particular artist sang a spanish song....Ok what comes into ur mind when you think of Spain...tango??? Salsa??? Meringue??? Well what this team did, is some short Micheal Jackson's triller movement....ayo kadavale.....Yo Hablar Espanol Senor !!!!!...Thats not the way...worst part is the girls are wearing RM25 ringgit gown from Petaling Street...... to showcase Spain???

So where did they go wrong???? The dance, the genre, the message or again THE SYOK SENDIRI element??? Neway the so called Master was quite happy for what he have presented to the audience.... i say that was pathetic....

Being exposed to Indian Classical both in Sutra and TFA, Contemporary with Anthony, Malay Dance at UPM, Chinese, Commercial types of genres and attached as masters student in performing arts specialising in dance at UM...In fact how many out there can do Labanotation in dance??? LABA WHAT??? Well its dance writing techniques similar to music score....
Events and functions ....Solla theveyillei...From Award ceremonies- ITFA, IFF, to concerts - Astro Talents Quests, Konsert Suria, Raaga Concerts, From grand launchings - Global Indian Festival, tonnes of wedding events, showcases, production, done it. infact a recipient of Asian Youth Ambassador Award and nominee of the upcoming The Outstanding Young Malaysia Award ....Devised the syllabus and juggles three university's co curriculum , did talks on performing arts and the artistic director of Asthana Arts.....and if anyone calls me Master, first thing i tell them to call me Ravi Shanker....because i feel the word "master" is too high and overqualified for me to be addressed at....just Ravi Shanker....

There is only one master in dance.....

Aangikam Bhuvanam Yasya,
Vaachikam Sarva Vaangmayam,
Aharyam Chandra Tharadi,
Thum Numah Saat vikam Shivam...

You, whose limbs are the universe,
You, the originator of all speechess,
You , who adornment of moon and stars,
You are the truth.....

LORD NADARAJA I BOW TO THEE