Dhi is a Sanskrit word with various meanings relating to the mind. Meditation, imagination or reflection are all apt definitions. For NUS Indian Dance, Dhi is the beginning of a journey of self-discovery arising from internal conflicts.
One of their more unique performances in this multi-part film presentation is their Bharatanatyam interpretation of Abdul Ghani Hamid’s poem, Terkocak. We connected with Arjavi Bahety, former president of NUS Indian Dance, to find out more about their experience in translating Hamid’s poem into dance.
Why Terkocak?
Terkocak, meaning splashed, describes Hamid’s dream of a man who dives deep into a rippling pond, surrounded by lush trees and playful grasshoppers. In the water’s depths, he grapples with his solitude, to emerge with a profound understanding of himself.
This poem touched Mrs. Bhaskar deeply, and its setting in a garden was apt for its interpretation in Dhi. Thus, against the serene background of the Singapore Botanical Gardens, we adapted Mr Hamid’s poem to emote this journey of self-discovery through the inner turmoil of loneliness.
What was your experience in translating the poem into dance?
When translating the poem into dance, we had to be very mindful of preserving its integrity in message and tone. To ensure this, Mrs Bhaskar worked closely with Mr Hamid. She was in constant communication with him during the composition of the music and also had many discussions to fully understand the poem’s meaning, its interpretation, and philosophy.
Before starting on any poem, Mrs Bhaskar would put our literary skills to test by challenging us to put ourselves in the shoes of the poet and analyse the poem. She would then share with us what the poet had shared with her. These discussions helped us better understand the intended emotions of the poem to translate it into our performance.
Furthermore, the piece also blended Malay culture into the performance through gestures and postures adapted from Malay dance, which flowed seamlessly into the Bharatanatyam choreography. For example, in one section the dancers can be seen walking with their knees bent while gliding to the music. This is not a traditional Bharatanatyam walk, and the inspiration was taken from the Malay dance form.
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