"Pina Bausch (choreographer)Tripura Kashyap opens her new book, Contemporary Dance – Practices, Paradigms and Practitioners with this quote from not only one of the world’s greatest contemporary dance choreographers but one who shifted perceptions of dance in India for artists and audiences, thanks to the actualized dream of Max Meuller Bhavan’s Dr Georg Lechner. This seemed directly connected to teaching methods in our education system that prompted rote learning rather than a creative approach to academics. Of course, the challenges of lack of recognition as a profession and poor funding plague the torchbearers.From the loneliness of a solo pioneer in the 1990’s, today there is a directory of art therapists, an upcoming 5th international Creative Movement Therapy Association of India (CMTAI) conference  and many dance therapists she has taught and inspired have gone to the U. for training – and returned!Pune University offers a diploma course in dance therapy with a waiting list, thanks to Artsphere’s support and hopefully there will clinch rivet an MA offered in future.A in Psychology alongside modern and creative dance techniques, Tripura brought Creative Movement Therapy to India in 1990.In her handbook on creative dance therapy, my body, my wisdom, Tripura includes guidelines for both creative participatory activities as well as from Indian movement traditions. I felt at one with the space, with my dance and the others around me. It is readable, thorough and full of practical advice for teachers, performers and anyone interested in a solid overview of its past and present.

The approach must match the situation, for instance dance therapy for the blind might start with running to feel comfortable with space.Tripura Kashyap’s new book addresses the historical, theoretical, philosophical and practical considerations of contemporary dance in India.To quote Victor Hugo, "You can resist an invading army; you cannot resist an idea whose time has come. We forget where the movements come from. It was as if a whole range of movements (physical as well as emotional) trapped inside my body emerged and exploded out into the space. When undergoing movement experiences based on these layers, children heal, change, grow and also learn to let go their hyper-active and surplus physical energy.Sharon Lowen is a respected exponent of Odissi, Manipuri and Mayurbhanj and Seraikella Chau whose four-decade career in India was preceded by 17 years of modern dance and ballet in the US and an MA in dance from the University of Michigan. In Delhi, at the Bhoomika Creative Dance Centre, Tripura offers movement training capsules over six months - a total of 40 hours training spread out so that special education and regular classroom teachers can try an activity for body coordination, trust building, etc. Elements of classical dance, such as memorizing musical notes by matching hand gestures to the sa-re-ga-ma and stories and certainly folk dances can play a part in dance therapy, but fundamentally one cannot limit what is needed to one style of dance.  When you create a new work, the point of departure must be contemporary life…not existing forms of dance. These outreach experiences help choreographers remain open and receptive to all artistic and human experiences that come across their way. They are born from life. She addresses the historical, theoretical, philosophical and practical considerations of contemporary dance in India.Anne Riordan (American Movement Therapist/Dance educator), argues that creative dance engages with the physical, psychological, mental, emotional, creative, social and spiritual layers of individuals. When parents approach me to teach classical dance to very young children, I recommend that its far better to take creative movement classes– drawing alphabets with elbows and other body parts, imagining walking on and through water, bubble gum, ice and custard and becoming animals, toasters and clouds.