My Friend The Dancer-Scholar

Performing at the University- doesn't she look awesome?

Originally from Canada, she is a student at the University here, getting her PhD from the Dept of Dance & Theatre. We were introduced by a common friend a couple of years ago. As her subject was Kuttiyattam, a traditional dance-drama from Kerala, it was important that she learn the language or at least be able to speak or understand it at an elementary level and our friendship grew over many long lunches and discussions conversing in and on Malayalam, on Kerala, the culture, the people and on dance. I remember the fun and excitement of helping her out (in a small way) to organize the Kathakali workshop here at the university. When my mom was here visiting, she would come home almost everyday to learn some Malayalam from her. A few months ago she successfully passed her PhD comprehensive exam and moved to Kerala for her field work. She reached a couple of days before I was to leave Kerala and so we had a day to hang out in Kochi. It was fun and we went to Fab India to pick some Indian outfits for her and ate Dosas from BTH and she was telling me about all her plans while in India. She was so excited and looking forward to her dissertation field work in Kerala.

You just have to meet her and talk to her for a few minutes to realize how much she loves dancing and how passionate she is about it, particularly Bharatnatyam and Kuttiyattam. She has been learning Kuttiyattam at Kalamandalam preparing for her first performance (Arangettum) early next year. Myself and a bunch of her other friends would get regular updates from her on her experiences in Kerala through these long, descriptive emails which are always interesting and often amusing. Here is an excerpt-

......."I have decided that for me doing field research is like walking in a dark, unfamiliar room. You mostly bump into things and receive minor bruises until you stumble upon a light that leads to more and more treasures. It is definitely a great experience most of the time even
if you are scared of the dark. I don’t think I am as afraid of the dark as those HUGE ancient spiders that prevent me from using the toilet or opening a door when they decide to camp out! I actually don’t mind walking around in the dark, my eyes adjust very well. This is really funny too, because my friend and I were having a discussion about how we as a species are adapting to needing so much more light than we used to ever need, and we are losing our ability to, as he said “see in the dark” . . . whether you want to take this literally or as a metaphor is completely up to you. But the discussion started when I was mentioning how I much prefer watching kutiyattam with the natural lighting of just the oil lamp as opposed to all the artificial stage lighting that they are now using. There is much more ambiance,
magic and mystery..............................................
............And with that, I shall leave you to think about coming to Kerala in February or March to support me in my arangetram ;) or at least to
think about those scary spiders".

I spoke to her on the phone a couple of weeks ago when she was home visiting my mom. She had just gotten back from her trip to Combodia . She and I spoke for long and we made plans to travel around Kerala and catch some traditional temple performances across the state during my next visit. She had already established some good dance & theatre contacts in Kerala and which would help us in planning the trip. Last week she turned 30 and celebrated it in Goa with a friend.

After returning from Goa, day before yesterday, she passed away, apparently from complications following an asthma attack. She was a chronic asthma patient and was always in and out of hospitals be it here or in India. But to die at 30, so suddenly!?! I am not sure how to make sense of this. Sometimes I can't stop the tears and sometimes I become all philosophical, questioning everything- the meaning, the purpose and what not.

All I know is I will miss her greatly. R.I.P dear friend.