Society Dance,
Dance, Dance Away the Blues
by Ranjita Biswas
"I have
learnt to fly through dance," says Nasima Khatun, as she performs in a
production called 'Expressions'. Her co-dancer, Sabita Debnath, invites
the audience to respond: "Dance has taught me to dream: We come to you -
to dream."
However, these young girls, who are in their 20s, are
not conventional performing artistes. They are
trainers from the NGO - Kolkata Sanved ('sanved'
implies 'sensitivity' in Hindi). They guide girls and
boys coming from disadvantaged circumstances to
express themselves through dance, using Dance Movement
Therapy (DMT) to help the youngsters shed their
inhibitions. (DMT was recognised in the 1930's across
the world for its therapeutic benefits.)
Sohini Chakraborty, 35, founder of Kolkata Sanved, has
made extensive use of DMT. Along with her team,
Chakraborty works with people under stress,
facilitating them to open up, express themselves and
get healed in the process. According to her, DMT
encourages them to cope with their mental scars by
prompting them to think, 'I am creating my own body
through my own expression.'
One of the main beneficiaries of Sanved's work is
rescued trafficked girls and women. For many of these
victims, the biggest hurdle that inhibits them from
interacting with other people is a sense of shame
about their own body. This feeling leads to the
development of an inferiority complex. DMT encourages
them to deal with their problems.
At a recent seminar 'Using Dance and Movement Therapy
in Working against Trafficking and Sexual
Exploitation' held at the American Center, Kolkata,
and facilitated by UNIFEM, Chakraborty elaborated on
her work while member- trainers of Sanved put up
'Expressions' to show how participants can come to
terms with their trauma and become inspired to move
on.
Kolkata is a major conduit for trafficked women.
Proximity to international borders with Bangladesh and
Nepal - two well-known areas of human trafficking; and
to the poverty-stricken hinterland - has resulted in a
large number of victims in the state capital.
According to 'Action Research on Trafficking in Women
and Children in India', prepared by the Institute of
Social Sciences, New Delhi, for the National Human
Rights Commission (2002-03): One out of every eight
children trafficked in India is from West Bengal.
Around 68 per cent of those trafficked are lured by
promises of jobs and 16.8 per cent are abducted with
promises of marriage. Recent data released by the
National Crime Record Bureau, revealed that 2,529
minors went missing from West Bengal in 2006.
For its programmes, Kolkata Sanved partners with local
NGOs as that ensures easier acceptance among the local
populace. The organization has recently begun working
with boys as well to address issues of masculinity,
inherently linked to the issue of sexual violence.
Pointing out the difference between dance as an art
form and DMT, Chakraborty explains, "When you say you
are going to a dance class, it refers to a particular
dance style you want to pursue for love of the art.
But when we talk about dance therapy, it is
need-based."
For Chakraborty, who along with being a trained dancer
holds a Masters degree in sociology, it has been a
long journey. From discovering a language through the
medium of dance, to using that communication as a
catalyst for behavioral change, to finally ensuring
that her efforts gain acceptance - it has been a
challenge.
All through her struggle, it was her experiences that
came in handy. She was a member of Dancer's Guild, a
well-known contemporary dance troupe; and of
Rangakarmee, the only Hindi language theatre group in
Kolkata. A particular influence was the Rangakarmee's
production, 'Beti Ayee' ('A Girl is Born'). The play,
which focuses on discrimination against the girl
child, had such an impact on Chakraborty that she
decided that she wanted to make a positive
contribution to society. "I was itching to do
something different with dance but didn't know what. I
wasn't looking for merely churning out pretty
dancers."
Then, while working on her post-graduate studies
(criminology was a paper she offered), Chakraborty
also had the opportunity to visit rescued victims of
trafficking in their shelter homes.
Eventually, she volunteered with Sanlaap, an NGO in
Kolkata that works largely with rescued girls, using
dance as a core activity. While teaching the girls to
dance - combining classical and contemporary movements
- Chakraborty found that the girls followed the
movements mechanically and without any "emotional
involvement". This realization propelled the volunteer
to experiment so that the young girls could become
less inhibited. For instance, she told a girl to think
she were a tree and thus show how she would perform in
that role. The results were astonishing.
It was during this period that Chakraborty was
introduced to the concept of DMT and was reassured
that she was on the right track. In 2003, she was
conferred the Ashoka Fellow Award (2003) for her
innovative work. The recognition enabled her to evolve
her own programme. The Ashoka Fellowship recognizes
leadership qualities and innovative solutions to
social problems. It is headquartered in the US.
Reflects Indrani Sinha, Director, Sanlaap, on the
benefits of DMT for the inmates of her NGO's shelter
homes, "We see a lot of hurt among these people but
there's a lot of beauty too. We have to look for their
wellspring of beauty, try to bring that to the surface
and not treat them as just case studies. DMT helps
them to rise above the brutalities they have gone
through."
However, Veena Lakhumalani of CINI-Asha, an NGO that
works with street and slum children who are often
victims of abuse, cautions, "DMT doesn't replace counseling; it supplements it. There are long
silences even during counseling sessions. Through
dance we see such barriers often collapsing."
Sanved's DMT workshops are conducted in the rural
areas, too, in collaboration with out-reach organizations and also at elite urban schools, where
children find the joy of dancing a stress-buster. The organization also partners with several groups such as
the All Bengal Women's Union; Apne Aap Women Worldwide
that works with trafficked children and victims of
violence; and Anjali, a mental health organization
working within government hospitals. Sanved also
networks with organizations in Bangladesh, Nepal, and
Thailand.
Closer home, Chakraborty is proud of her DMT trainers,
who have risen from challenging circumstances
themselves but today are confident enough to run
workshops on their own. To further the cause of their
empowerment, Sanved is working on a curriculum
"Sampurnata" (fulfillment) with the aim of offering a
certificate course. Sampurnata will thus qualify the
trainers to secure employment elsewhere, too. The
initiative is a step towards Chakraborty's dream of
setting up a full-fledged institute.
Of course, this is just a beginning: Chakraborty
believes that her use of DMT among disadvantaged girls
is a positive step towards their empowerment- towards
leading them to a life beyond hopelessness.
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However, these young girls, who are in their 20s, are
not conventional performing artistes. They are
trainers from the NGO - Kolkata Sanved ('sanved'
implies 'sensitivity' in Hindi). They guide girls and
boys coming from disadvantaged circumstances to
express themselves through dance, using Dance Movement
Therapy (DMT) to help the youngsters shed their
inhibitions. (DMT was recognised in the 1930's across
the world for its therapeutic benefits.)