Dances of India

Changes in the Relationship of Guru-Shishya

Dances of India by Dr. Maha Gingrich

Recently, I am seeing major changes in the relationship of guru and the student. Unless you are learning classical dances, this relationship does not even exist. If you are learning classical dances, you will have a consistency in relationship between guru and the student as it takes 7 to 9 years to learn these dance styles. If not, you will learn a quick Bollywood dance for a month here and there to be on the stage for a show or a festival. So, what happened to the Guru-Shishya Parampara?

When you search for the meaning of Guru-Shishya Parampara, this is what we find: The guru–shishya tradition, or parampara (“lineage”), denotes a succession of teachers and disciples in traditional Indian culture and religions such as Hinduism, Jainism and Buddhism (Tibetan and Zen tradition).

If it is a succession plan, then all the classical dance teachers are in trouble in the USA as most of our students complete their arangetrams (dance graduations) before they graduate from high school. Then they leave for college eliminating any chances of succession.

Thousands of years ago in India, the Gurukul system laid out norms for the complex and fascinating relationship between the teacher and student. Because the fine arts are a spiritually uplifting experience, the guru came second only to god, and hence the sloka, Guru Bramha, Guru Visnu, Guru deva Maheshwara, Guru sakshat Parabramha tasmayee shri gurave namaha. Here the sloka compares the guru to the greatest undivided power or energy that forms the base of creation itself and combines the forces of the Creator, the Destroyer, and the Preserver according to the Vedic beliefs.

As time has passed, however, there have been progressive changes in the system. I still remember, I had to show my worthiness to learn Kuchipudi, from my guru’s guru. After showing our dances to the level we have learned, he chose to teach me and said “no” to others.

This transmission of privileged knowledge required the student’s demonstration of serious commitment, uniqueness, ability to learn, and potential to carry on the teachings of the guru.

Students spent an extensive amount of time every day with the gurus aspiring to be like them. They even learned other art forms such as music to enhance their understanding and practice of dance. Guru not only taught dancing, but also taught life lessons.

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