Dilshad Patel is a dancer with a difference. The Mumbai based dancer teaches dance movement therapy which has numerous health, mental and emotional benefits. She talks to Glynda Alves about her passion, life and very lucrative career
People would tell my parents, ‘What the hell are you making your babies do!?’ But we’re Parsi and Parsis love to dance,” says Dilshad Patel quite simply. Dance has been an integral part of Dilshad's life since the age of five. She trained in Bharat Natyam for 12 years, and was an instructor and performer with Shiamak Davar’s Institute for the performing Arts for 7 years. While teaching dance to children infected with HIV, with hearing and visual impairments, and to orphans and juvenile delinquents, Dilshad learned about the challenges and rewards of counseling children with special needs. And so, the young dancer moved to New York to pursue her education in the field of dance and movement therapy. And she hasn’t regretted it since.
Why did you decide to become a dancer?
Whether it was mimicry or entertaining my grandparents, I was always good at performing arts. I’d hold a mic and dance about the house. A family friend saw me and urged my parents to enroll me in dance classes. My parents have always been very supportive. Dancing has always been a part of me.
You’ve been trained formally from a young age. What did you study?
I trained as an Indian classical dancer for 12 years followed by seven years training as an instructor/performer. I then had the opportunity to train under Mr. Fagan (famed for his Tony award for his choreography for the Lion King on Broadway and also pursued my education in dance/movement therapy in New York at the Harkness Dance Center. I also received my training for dance in education and a dance educator.
Wow. That’s a lot!
(laughs) Yes, I’ve been closely associated with dance for about twenty years now!
Tell us a little about dance therapy.
Dance therapy is the use of dance movements to improve the mental and physical well being of a person. It is founded on the premise that the body and mind are connected and that the state of the body may affect mental and emotional well being, and vice verse. Using elements such as effort, space, flow and time and various qualities of movement, students are encouraged to explore their bodies and emotions in relationship to their surroundings.
What’s the difference between a regular dancer and a dance therapist?
Although some instructors call themselves dance therapists, dance instruction is in fact quite the opposite of what dance therapists would do in a session.
By observing and altering the movements of a client, dance movement therapists diagnose and help solve various psychological problems by getting people to express themselves through these movements.
Who would you recommend dance therapy to?
Dance therapy is beneficial to everyone — from patients with mental and emotional distress to individuals with physical disabilities. Dance movement therapy is cathartic for the healthy person as well.
Is it fulfilling as a career?
I love what I do. I believe that I didn't choose to be a dance/movement therapist but I was chosen to carry out this work.
There’s a lot of competition out there… is it very hard to manage?
I like to compete with myself and do the best I can and always better my potential and education. Dance therapy is different from dance as therapy or dance instruction and people should know the difference. However there are enough projects in the market for all dancers.
How much money do you make?
(laughs) I’d rather not reveal the amount. Let’s just say that being a dance therapist a lucrative career.
So there’s no need of supplementing your career with Bollywood music videos or movies?
I already have had the opportunity to do so and if more opportunities come my way I might consider it but my focus is on dance/movement therapy for now.
What’s the best thing about being a dancer?
You get to know yourself through dance and there is no space for mistakes. You learn a lot from your peers and it’s an amazing feeling and experiential learning process. It’s a fun but extremely difficult profession.
And the worst thing?
The body needs rest and as a professional dancer you have to go with the flow. Sometimes neglecting the body is inevitable.
What advice would you give someone who wants to take up dance as a profession?
It’s a hard but rewarding journey and it also depends on how cut out you are with talent, skill, physical potential and an innate ability to be a dancer at least at a professional level.
To join Dilshad’s classes: 9769644418
wellness@dilshadpatel.com
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Benefits of dance therapy
Improves the mental and physical well being of a person.
Various psychological problems can be solved by getting people to express themselves through movement.
With the use of elements such as effort, space, flow and time, one can explore thier bodies and emotions in relationship to their surroundings.