Desi News Corp - Index

Desi News Corp - Desi News - July 2009 - Index

perimentation, to take it beyond
its boundaries. When we do a
classical work, it is completely
authentic; but we are versatile.
Our recent tour of India was a
validation. People came out and
said they had no idea that there
was this level of excellence in
the diaspora.”
The dancer who brought Indian
classical dance to Canada
and now takes Canadian-Indian
dance to the world is currently
working on Samvad. The work
incorporates elements of Indian,
Caribbean and First Nations’
dance to reveal issues of
identity, of home and belonging
and how each culture reacts
with those that are already here.
Pada received Canada’s highest
honour not just for her contribution
to the arts, but also for
her advocacy work in several
areas.
Following the terrorist
bombing of Air India 182 in
June 1985, in which Pada lost
her husband and two daughters,
she has been an active spokesperson
for the families of the
victims. A part of the Canadian
Coalition Against Terrorism,
she has been a strong advocate
for an inquiry into Canada’s
worst act of terrorism and has
pushed for changes in legislation
regarding aviation security,
law enforcement and
Canada’s judicial system.
Twenty-four years later, she
feels no closure.
“There never will be. There
were huge implications personally,
nationally; heartbreaking
It has been Lata Pada’s
mandate to demystify
Indian dance
consequences for so many
Canadian families. It was the
greatest devastation one can
ever imagine. But I dealt with it
as I continue to deal with it, by
looking around me at the
suffering of others. Whenever
I asked, ‘Why me?’ I was aware
of another question. ‘Why not
me?’ Tragedy is a part of what
humanity is. Perhaps being a
Hindu, and looking at it through
Hindu philosophy, helped
me realize that we have no control
over certain acts.
“This helped me bring some
meaning to what became of my
life. The support of family and
friends helped me cope. I might
not have had this explanation
10 years ago. But at this point
in the cycle of life, this is how I
deal with my loss.”
Pada is also part of the
Canadian Dance Assembly,
working to raise support for
dance, which she says often
finds itself at the bottom of the
totem pole when it comes to
funding for the arts.
As a dancer-choreographer,
and the founder and artistic
director of Canada’s leading
South Asian dance company,
Sampradaya Dance Creations,
and also the founder-director
of Sampradaya Dance Academy,
a premiere professional
dance training organization,
Pada has trained and mentored
well over 1000 dancers.
Her daughters Brinda and
Arti would have been 42 and 39
today, and Pada agrees that
perhaps she sublimates some of
her grief in teaching and mentoring
young women.
“Subconsciously, not deliberately.
Because I am aware of
the responsibilities of the guru.
One may laugh like Brinda
laughed. Another’s eyes may
remind me of Arti. It’s painful,
but I have learned to celebrate
the lasting relationships I have
formed with my students, some
of whom are now mothers
themselves. These relationships
are so rewarding and it’s a
comfort zone I am grateful to
be in. I have my moments, but
those are between me and my
memories.”
Besides teaching dance and
performing herself, Pada oversees
the administrative side of
Sampradaya Studio. Then there
is the planning that goes into a
production.
“The budgeting, booking
theaters, collaborations for
lighting, set design, rehearsals...a
production can take between
two to three years to put together.”
With her days packed as they
are, she still makes the time for
yoga sessions at a studio with
her husband Hari Venkatacharya.
On alternate days, she
works out with a personal
trainer. In her free time, the two
love to catch a play.
“The pile of books by my
bed that I want to read grows
taller. But today, I live to dance.
“Dance was my cathartic
anchor, it became my reason to
go on. That’s why I don’t see
dance as just entertainment, but
as an agent of change.”
– SHAGORIKA E ASWAR
• Sampradaya Dance Creations recently
received a $245,000 grant
from the Ontario Trillium Foundation.
Funds from the three-year grant
will be used to produce Dance Intense
residencies that will create more
opportunities for young dancers as
well as to help strengthen community
dance partnerships in a variety of
locations in Ontario.