Sonal Mansingh
 
 
By Vijay Phanshikar :
“Dance is in the heart; body is just an instrument”. 
- Iconic classical dancer 
Dr. Sonal Mansingh 
 
 

 

THIS is art’s essence ! The art -- any art -- is in the heart, and it expresses itself through different instruments. The heart -- and the head, too -- is the sanctuary of art, thus, where the art first germinates and sprouts and blossoms and sends out its fragrance. And then come in the connoisseurs who receive the rendition, rejoice its flourish, nourish their souls in its wake, rejuvenate their spirits. For a performing artist with an intense personality -- like Sonal Mansingh -- dance is an inner process, first taking shape in the mind, and then manifests in actions through the instrument of body -- the mudra (fine, symbolic gestures), the abhinaya (the nuanced facial expression) -- expressing itself to the tune of accompanying music.

 

However, there is a third dimension as well -- soul, that blissful inner core of being. So, the art -- in this case dance -- is a continuum of the trinity of soul-mind-and-body. Of course, dance also has many socio-cultural dimensions -- from which germinate the theme, the story idea, the choreography et al. But the core is in the ‘heart’ as Sonal Mansingh insists. Before the body moves gracefully, the mind does -- spurred by the soul’s innermost stirrings, enthused by the imagined beauty of the thought and action, and then carving out in space around the artist the physical imagery that dance finally is. Most artists treat their art as an opportunity to give their soul a full expression. The whole process is “very inviting”, again to use the words of Sonal Mansingh (in a private conversation).

 

The mind’s sanctuary senses the soul’s inspiration, which then travels up to imagining shape of expression that finds physical form. This inner-to-outer journey is beautiful -- because it is insightful ! Watching a classical dancer -- man or woman -- effervesce in lilting action is nearly a spiritual experience for most. For, the dance etches on the mind’s screen an impression whose actual memory may get erased with time, but whose fragrance, whose essence lingers lifelong. For, dance comes from the heart -- and expresses itself through the instrument of body. Every art is similar in a way. It gets spurred in the soul, sprouts in the mind, and manifests in action (through whichever the instrument).