Shiva ready for the ramp....really?

Homoeroticism at it’s peak. Blasphemy? Perhaps. The exhibition is long over (or maybe not) but a certain political group protested the showing and threatened to shut down the gallery. Now that cold just be another from of fanaticism in this ‘secular’ state of ours. But is this a fine example of chasing controversy that begets publicity? At the risk of sounding like a bigot, feel more like a reactionary art that ought to precede repute so your name gets emblazoned across headlines. While this collection may not have had that much of the impact or the repurcussion the artist might have wanted to garner, in all the seriousness that art entails, doesn’t it feel more like a sexual whim more than a representation of something divine? You decide.
I present, Dr Rajat kaanthi Dharr associated with the Ashish Balram Nagpal gallery and his “Shiva ready for the ramp”

In the artist’s own words…
For ages, we have perceived God in the forms depicted to us from generation to generation. Never questioning these
forms or the basis, as to ask, why they are projected the way we see them, for e.g. Lord Brahma sitting on a lotus, Lord
Vishnu with four arms, Goddess Durga presides on a lion. From childhood, I was not very comfortable with this idea.
We believe what we see through our eyes and depict what our mind interprets through our understanding of the world
we live in.
The God's depicted in our mythology could be superior beings from distant planets, scientifically millions of times
advanced in their technology. The same as we have even today. They were responsible and supportive to new civilizations
evolving all over the universe. Directing, showing them the way to develop and making them aware of technology in their
own godly ways. Their prime motive being peace and growth in the universe among the planets that have life. They used
to roam from one planet to another through their advanced vehicles.
Alternately there were some rouge aliens who were hell bent on disturbing the peace, who we named demons, or
rakshasha. Their motive was to gain control over these civilizations and rule. The logic says the God's,
(superior beings) helped the growing civilizations protect themselves from these demons.
I presume when the God's came to earth we were technologically extremely naive so when
they used to travel here in their space ships (vehicles), our ar tists of those times could
not perceive a mechanism so advanced like a space ship. To make the whole idea perceptible to the masses they gave it
the form of a lotus, prosthetic robotic arms as extra hands etc, and these forms continued being passed on from
generation to generation.
But today and the years to come where we have ourselves scientifically advanced, I think its high time we do a
logical makeover of our perception of God, so that the coming generation can relate to Him and the faith stays on.
Gods being a super being with superior intelligence technologically advanced so also friendly.
I believe, that someday we will become highly developed both scientifically and in our thoughts, looking beyond
planet earth and become responsible for supporting new life in some distant part of the universe.
My present series SHIVA “Ready for the ramp” is an attempt to portray the most powerful source in this universe in a
form, which I can relate to, as super being with gadgets which are empowering, and his pet the snake that symbolizes
a heart that loves every creation. Confident and strong sexuality defining the present generation perfectly, the
'Shiva' that every one of us has within us as us.

Turning exotica into a common thread

With an innate ability to weave the subtle nuances and textures of oriental music into movement, Veronica Simas de Souza no longer confines belly dancing to Greek and Turkish nightclubs. As archaic as that thought may be, Veronica or Veve as she is called, believes this oriental dancing mirrors the ''reality where women, as rhythmicpriestess, respond to the music.With a dance background that includes studies and performances in Middle Eastern, African, modern, ballet, and Latin dance forms, Veve’s inspiration to teach the dance came from her Guruji Sunayana Hazarilal from the Banaras Gharana founded by Pt Janaki Prasadjim under whom she trained for Kathak. "My unique, exciting and colorful dance style is the understanding of the very soul of Raks Sharqi combines with a world-fusion repertoire that ranges from samba to interpretive dance,” she says.Veve believes that art should transform. She draws upon her expansive movement vocabulary, wild creativity, goddess inspires spirituality and fierce courage to forge transcendent experiences for her audiences. About the dance form she says, "”I am committed to a powerful and truthful purity of the movement that is, by nature, ecstatic. This is a mesmerizing dance form that emphasise a lot on body isolation, intrinsic movements of the hip, belly and the torso. There's a lot of muscle control and you need a lot of body awareness. With belly dancing, you need to be able to study music and its rhythm. As you progress, it's almost like you can conduct an orchestra with the dancer becoming another instrument of that ensemble. It's about the proficiency of the music and the interpretation of the mood of the rhythm as well as the lyric.”The dance, popularly called belly dance has gone by many names. It developed through the influence of many different areas and continues its long process of development today. Recognized as a dance style of its own rather than it's exotic connotation, Veve has been trying to organize free workshops so people genuinely interested can get to know about the dance form and it's evolvement. Making her way to india the first time around in 2002, she says her decision to teach has nothing to the fact that Asian countries are booming and there's money to be had. “I was in Thailand before I moved here and I heard so much about the country that when I finally visited I just immediately fell in love with it. Dancing is a common thread for all art forms. And with the divrse classical art that is entrenched in this country, how could I not learn.,” she says.In between telling the auto rickshaw driver “Yahan se left, kuchh problem hai? Relax ” to talking about the transcendental progression of the dance, Veve says she has allowed herself to develop a new concept in dance awareness and meditation as well as her communication skills.Her pupils and classes include women of all ages and she believes belly dancing give everbody a tool that paves way for an opportunity to create beautiful movements. “It increases your awareness and forces you t understand how your body moves. Nothing is automatic and anybody can look great with the amount of grace it brings into your body. You become more beautiful.”In her own words, “The beauty is to perform the simplest of movements to the divinity of understanding the intrinsic rhythms of the body”.

The Melody of electronic trance

It’s an electronic wave, and most people hitting the club scene may perhaps just see another plight of sheer ecstasy with the number of Djs coming into town. And with the power of pattern and repetition to get people moving, Andy Moor seems more than willing to assimilate whatever comes along. The celebrated Grammy-nominated artist, having performed at Bombay 72 East on Friday, is here in the country as part of the Budweiser Clubbing tour.
“I make music that is mainly electronic (but can also include acoustic elements), but it is melodic electronic dance music. I’m not a fan of trying to be too descriptive of my own music,” he says.
A musical prodigy of sorts, the 28-year-old Briton learnt his first piano piece at the age of 5; mastered six musical instruments by age 11 and spun his first record at the age of 13. Leaning from the classical to his vibrant music with a digital foundation, Andy says, “I am classically trained but I always had the desire to learn more about electronic music after hearing early pioneers like Jean Michelle Jarre, Vangelis and early ScFi musical scores. I was then hooked on early house music, which led me to what I am doing now.”
From both subtle and blatant, his music skips across the hard-line beats using the high, supple lines of what he does best. “I always like to experience new technology. This keeps me going, and also helps me to stay on top of my fame. Everything I do in my life I crosscheck into music and let every experience influence me in my music,” he explains.
“No matter where you play the essence is always the same. I’ve heard so much about India and am so excited to experience it for myself,” Andy says with a certain emphasis on the culture that he has been looking forward to experiencing.
Swaying audiences at music festivals and clubs across the world, and with collaborations that could hang platinum cases across the walls, his appreciation of the more subtle and complex elements to the music may just change your perception of a tune. Next stop: Hyderabad.

Interview with Dj Andy Moor

Q. Having dabbled with different genres of music, how would you describe the kind of music you do? If there is a description of it…I make music that is mainly electronic (but can also include acoustic elements), but it is melodic electronic dance music. Im not a fan of trying to be too descriptive of my own music.

Q. Why do you work with other acts such as Leama & Moor, Tilt and Whiteroom etc. Is it more of collaboration or work as a group?
I like to work with other people as it is always great fun, and it is also good for motivation. It is not always inspiring to work on my own in a dark studio, so collaborating with others helps to break up the monotony and inject a bit of life into the studio.

Q. Having played across the globe, how different do you think it would be playing in the Indian sub-continent?
No matter where you play the essence is always the same. I am expecting enthusiastic people who I think I will warm to and hopefully they will warm to me. Ive heard so much about India and am so excited to experience it for myself.
Q. How different is your music from your contemporaries? How do you differentiate yourself?
I play 100% to the crowd and I think my main talent as a dj is being able to connect with a crowd and understand what music to play to make them enjoy their night the best way possible. I also think being a Dj is understanding people, and understand what people want. Some Djs play to themselves and play a tune that they like but it might not be what others like. My taste in music is something that I share with many people. Im also a classical musician so this also gives me an appreciation of the more subtle and complex elements to the music.

Q. What make you take to the kind of music that you do rather than you conventional classical or traditional form?
As mentioned in my previous question I am classically trained, so as a child I learnt many musical instruments and started my career in the classical industry. I always had the desire to learn more about electronic music after hearing early pioneers like Jean Michelle Jarre, Vangelis and early ScFi musical scores. I was then hooked on early house music which led me to what I am doing now.

Q. You've worked with artists like Britney Spears, Avril Lavigne, Paul Oakenfold, Brian Eno, Tiesto, Delerium and Arthur Baker. What is it that you bring into their own music?
I bought a different take on their tunes. I made remixes of their work and opened up their music to more people and more enviroments. For example the britney spears song was a slow love song, and the remix we made turned it into a dance tune so that all of a sudden this love song was being played in nightclubs around the world. So we put a different take on the original tune.

Q. What's your view on "remixes" taking away from the originality of musical forms?
I dont think they take anything away, they just add another outlook, another persons perception of the tune. The original tune is what the initial production was meant to be, but a remix opens this up to a broader audience and can showcase the creativity of a remixer.

Q. What's next on your itinerary beside your solo album?
Well I travel nearly every weekend to various parts of the world to Dj, so that is always something that is on the horizon. Apart from that we have another Whiteroom single planned, and also alot of collaborations with various people, mainly for my album. Also there is a new single called "So Much More" which will be released on my label AVA recordings.

Q What keeps you going as a musician? What challenges or "newer" experiences are you looking forward to?
Well I always like to experience new technology. In the studio there is always new software, hardware and techniques ready to be explored. This keeps me going, and also helps me to stay on top of my fame. I also experience alot outside of the music industry and this keeps me motivated inside the industry too. Everything I do in my life I crosscheck into music and let every experience influence me in my music.

Q. Any thoughts or expectations for your performance in India?I am extremely excited and looking forward to coming to India. It is a culture I have been looking forward to experiencing and I have only heard very positive things about the people of India and I cannot wait to meet them and also play them music which I hope they will enjoy.

Answer at will...

1. Have you ever had a crush on a fictional character?

2. What would I find in your refrigerator right now?
3. How would you explain a database in three sentences to your eight-year-old nephew?
4. If aliens landed in front of you and, in exchange for anything you desire, offered you any position on their planet, what would you want?
5. If Hollywood made a movie about your life, whom would you like to see play the lead role as you?
6. If you were written about in the newspaper, on the front page, what would the headline say?
7. What's the most important part of the sandwich?
8. How would you design a spice rack for a blind person?
9. Are you fed up of all these questions?
10. Are there good exercises just for smokers?
11. Can you lose belly fat by changing your breathing patterns?
12. Who would win a boxing match? Hillary Clinton , Barrack Obama or John Mccain?
13. Sexy: Palin, Bruna or Borat? Michelle Monaghan, Megan Fox or Lalu Prasad Yadav?14. Is this boring?