Irinjalakuda: Times come when we realise it is never late to pursue our dreams and age is just a number. Here is a women who covered a long way literally to indulge in her passion for the Indian classical dance Mohiniyattam. Japanese artiste Keiko Okano performed her debut on-stage performance (arangettam in Malayalam) at Nadana Kairali here the other day after nine years of rigorous training under the guru Nirmala Panikar. It was a dream- come-true moment for her and a significant phase of a promising artistic journey.
"I was very tensed and nervous before the programme. When it went on I felt more energy and power within myself,’’ Okano said after her inaugural performance before a jam-packed audience of around 200 people.
Keiko opened her recital with the usual Mohiniyattam repertoire. Her body language during the dance was such that the audience never felt she was a dancer from outside India.
The rhythmical swaying and unbroken flow of the body movement were never abrupt, but dignified, easy, natural and yet subtle.
When asked if she is comfortable with Mohiniyattam, Okano said, "It suits me well, and I feel okay and strong while performing. I am happy to be here with my teacher.’’
Okano is no novice to dance as she had started to learn it as a child. "I learned classical ballet from age 5 to 8, then I studied in the US for high school and college. I started Mohiniyattam practice in Japan under Hiromi Maruhashi along with two other students. Then I was keenly interested in western culture, but after living in America for over 5 years eventually made me curious towards Asian culture, especially India,’’ she revealed.
Okano's debut show was directed by her teacher Nirmala. "Her dedication towards this art form and teaching is incredible. I feel blessed being with great masters in the traditional ways,’’ noted the Japanese while paying tributes to the Indian guru. But how different is her style from that of her Japanese guru? "It is so different, Hiromi Maruhashi was taught mainly by Kalamadalam Leelama teacher. Nirmala teacher is following the Kalyanikutty Amma style. Nirmala teacher’s style suits me and I just live her style,’’ Okano noted by referring to a famed art school in Kerala.
She is now preparing for her Koodiyattam arangettam after sessions at a workshop by its exponent G. Venu. She learned special abhinaya from renowned Koodiyattam artiste Kapila Venu. In her unending quest for refinement and perfection, Okano now intends to continue training and performing in Kerala. ‘’I want to persist with Mohiniyattam and also pursue training under Nirmala teacher. I intend to perform all over Kerala with orchestras,’’ she shared her plans.
Such is her commitment to dance, she practises regularly and does strict self-evaluation even during busy schedules. She has been performing as a solo dancer in Japan and in India at prestigious venues like India International Centre, Delhi, and Bharathiya Vidya Bhavan, Chennai. She is also invited to performances organised by the Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Akademi.