Internationally acclaimed dancer Tanusree Shankar describes her genre as one distinct from both classical and contemporary. The Shankar Technique of New Age Dance, inspired by the artistic genius of her father-in-law Uday Shankar, is Indian in origin and spirit, but modern in presentation. And, it has universal appeal.

The danseuse, whose refined rhythm had crowds mesmerised at the Jamshedpur Carnival at Gopal Maidan on Friday, shares her views on new-age stage performances

You are here to perform at a carnival. How do you feel?

A carnival means joy and happiness; a fabulous concept that brings everybody together. I am enjoying

You are carrying forward Uday Shankar's legacy. What do you find missing in today's performances?

Patience. Everybody wants everything - be it fame or money - in an instant. In art, you need devotion. One needs to devote at least a decade. We call it sadhana (dedication). You have to be an eternal student to learn the art and then constantly upgrade yourself with time

Isn't it a competitive world that is moulding youngsters that way?

It is mostly about parents and their ambitions. A child must be allowed to remain a child. Participating in reality shows has become a fad because there you can climb the peak faster. But, remember, you may also climb down faster. And that is very unhealthy for a child

Should there be an age bar for reality shows?

Yes. At least 16, when a child understands what he or she is doing and why. As of now, channels raise their TRPs and parents bask in the fame

Do western dance forms dominate Indian television shows?

It is kind of a challenge. Teenagers must know the value of aesthetic art. Music or dance is like fresh air. You open up. Many find traditional Indian dances boring, but there are ways to improvise and make them interesting

Define the Shankar Technique of New Age Dance

It is a distinct genre. People mistake it for contemporary dance, but it is not. It is an amalgamation of all. It is very close to Indian-ness, based on contemporary themes. Like we will perform Wishful Thinking, where a deer herd is chased by poachers in a forest and how they get together to fight back. Also, there is Man Mayuri, a peacock romancing the rain

You experiment a lot with various martial dance forms. Why?

Yes, we do such workshops. Since there is a lot of exertion in these dance forms, they are exclusively meant for dancers at our academy to test their limits. We have had workshops on Thang-ta, the Manipuri martial art, and Kalayaripattu from Kerala