Six-year-old Chinmayis a hyperactive and restless child. “But he has learned to calm down after a moduledance therapy was tailor-made to suit his needs,” admits his mother Maya who isalso learning Bharatnatyam at 40 under the tutelage of Sachika Almeida, thefounder director of Nritya Sankul, an art school in Margao.
In this land of artand culture, traditions play a major role in defining the personality of ahuman being. And not only are little ones like Chinmay benefiting from danceand music, but even middle aged women, corporates and students of medicine,engineering, mass communication, law and other streams of education, are lookingat this ancient form of art as a stress buster. With the changing trends,parents are looking upon music and dance as a hobby, to de-stress their littleones from the burden of heavy school work.
Sachika, 40, hascarved a niche for herself as a teacher, dancer, choreographer and dancetherapist. In addition to conducting Bharatnaytam classes, she is a full-fledgeddance therapist for slow learners, mentally challenged children, streetchildren, visually impaired children, AIDS patients and people with specialneeds. As a teacher Sachika shares the platform with one and all, with nodiscrimination. As a performer, she choreographs dance sequels with physicallyand mentally challenged children, who display amazing abilities and spotlessskills, when they perform live, on stage.
Sachika’s art has crossedboundaries and has penetrated all communities’ alike, healing ailing bodies anddepressed souls. She discloses, “Through dance therapy I have helped even sexworkers come out of their shell, hardened with guilt and shame. After realisingthat these unlucky souls are pushed into the flash trade against their will andhave lost respect for their bodies, I taught them various dance forms whichallowed them to vent their suppressed feelings. As a result of my therapy, manyhave left their profession and started a fresh, new life.” Sachika is happythat dancing has helped them close the dark chapter of their lives in shadylanes and start afresh.
Sachika founded twoart schools in 15 years “ Kalangan and Nritya Sankul. Taking her motto one stepfurther, she is conceptualising a state-of-the-art Gurukul in South Goa. “Itwill be a dynamic centre for learning classical dance.” she affirms, addingconfidently, “With lovers of art stepping ahead extending generous support,this prestigious project will soon see the light of the day in the state.”
