The Das’ – Bonded By Dance & Blood

Grateful & Thankful: Replying to whether their mom was strict, while teaching, Shreyasee says that one can never develop or hold anger for things that one loves. “I absolutely find no reason to be angry at the fact that my mother decided to show and initiate me to such a beautiful world of dance, instead I’m grateful and forever thankful. I believe that seeing that teachers are strict, we students tend to edge towards perfection because there is a forever fear of a strict teacher among students. My mother was strict with me in correct aspects, whether in dance class or general. I think that is what has led to perfection and the growth of dedication also. She was a mother at home and a teacher in the class,” sums up Shreyasee.

Suchismita shares that her mother was her first teacher. Remembering her childhood days, Suchismita says: “My mother who is a dance lover nurtured me with her beautiful choreographies on semi-classical and folk songs. My first stage performance was at the age of four, a dance choreographed by my mother on a song by none other than Rabindranath Tagore. There began my journey of dance.” Suchismita began learning Bharatanatyam at the age of 12 under Sri Pulak Aditya of Kolkata, who was a teacher from great Uday Shankar Gharana. “Later on, I was trained by Smt. Erika Ingrid Nandy, disciple of Guru Srimati Thankumani Kutty of Kolkata Kalamandalam, then under Guru Pasumarthy Ramalingam Sastri ji in Hyderabad Central University,” she says, quickly adding that she also took training in Kathak and Rabindra Nritya from Smt. Dipa Hazra of Kolkata under Rabindra Bharati University.  

Shilparamam Favourite Stage: Shreyasee points out that the joy and happiness of dancing is not place specific for the Das family. “We can legit dance anytime, anywhere. Be it at home, the dance rehearsal hall, community parks, and even during trips/vacations. But if specifically asked about a particular stage, I think the stage of Shilparamam is such a platform where we enjoy performing very much,” she says. The final year engineering undergraduate shares that whenever they compose a dance piece together, there are a lot of ideas and thoughts that go behind it. “Hence, there’s a lot I learn from it and I love that process. So, I make sure to love each and every choreography that we do because it is when the emotions and hard work put in it will reflect. But in particular, we have a choreography on “Mathura Nagarpati” which depicts the return of Lord Krishna to Gokul, wherein His beloved, Radha is now married. It is one of my absolute favourites,” confesses the older daughter.

On her future plans, Shreyasee says that her parents have encouraged her and her sister to give the best in studies and dance. “My future plan and goal is to achieve the best and shine through, while expanding my knowledge and exploring more so that people know me for dance,” says the confident youngster. She adds that if one finds peace in dance like the trio, one should just embrace it. “Expression through dance is vivid. If one can feel the music and the related emotions from within, then the flow of movements comes in naturally and so does facial expressions. As a dancer, I am still learning, trying to grasp the history, process, and complexity of various dance forms and there is still a long way to go. There are so many dance forms, both Indian and International, that I would love to learn and explore while strengthening my roots, Bharatanatyam. Dance and I have a very connected relationship, thanks to my mother for making it a part of my life. I believe, it completes me as a person and I cannot be grateful enough,” says the engineering undergrad. 

Not disclosing her future plans, Suchismita says: “Life is too magical to change every moment, I live in dance, that should continue.” Her advice to youngsters is: “Practice, persistence, patience and also determination and love for Dance only can create a good dancer.” An MA in English with B. Ed, Suchismita worked in Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, Kolkata and Hyderabad before switching fulltime to passion in 2013 and setting up the Nrityam Dance Academy in Hyderabad.

Accolades & Awards: The senior dancer has been blessed with many awards and accolades. She has Master of Performing Art (Bharatanatyam) from the University of Hyderabad, Nritya Visharad in Bharatanatyam, Bhatkhande Sangeet Vidyapeeth, Lucknow. Sangeet Ratna in Bharatanatyam, Bangiya Sangeet Parishad, Kolkata, Sangeet Ratna in Bharatanatyam from Bangiya Sangeet Parishad, Kolkata. Kalpashree Natya Choodamani Award and Kalpashree Nritya Kalainidhi Award by Kalpashree Indian Art and Cultural Festival. Sangeet Sree (Senior Diploma in Kathak). “Besides, I have been a part of multiple workshops of different classical, folk and contemporary dance forms,” she says. Sisters Shreyasee and Sudhriti have been awarded the Nritya Kalaainidhi, Sangeet Manjari, and Sangeet Sree, while the younger Das girl has etched her name in the Guinness Book of World Records.