Dancing In The Family: An Unconventional Memoir Of Three Women

by Sukanya Rahman

A memoir of three generations of Indian Ragini Devi, Indrani Rahman, and Sukanya. Goes into life of Esther Sherman, who transformed herself into a pioneer in bridging the dance worlds of India and the West. Excellent on Bharata Natyam and Odissi, a beautiful, sensitive volume and an important contribution on Indian dance and culture. illus. South Asia Books also has the Devi, Indrani classic, illus. in color, Dance Dialects of India.

158 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2001

Reviews

[Gouthami · Rating 5 out of 5]

An easy to read book that took me through 3 generations of a family who are all dancers, specialising in various Indian classical styles. Their lives are quite incredible and exciting. There must have been awful times in their lives, but the author glosses over those and chooses to focus on the highs. Every artist goes through a lot of angst and pathos to create that art - and then that art gives them great joy, approaching nirvana. That is what the book describes. Everyday life is not really conducive to great art and yet these women have families - sometimes supportive and at other times perplexed. The style of writing is very simple helping me to finish reading the book very quickly. The backdrop to the book is the changing social and political scenario in both India and the USA, adding to the narrative.

[Mahi Pant · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this book a while ago and really enjoyed it. At that point in time I was evolving into a different person. Not wanting to read fiction, I picked this book from a book fair rack. I found this book to be truly an unconventional memoir of three generations of classical dancers from India. The book essentially does bring out the extreme way in which classical dance is practiced and revered in India. Also, how art is held dear to the heart with the teacher selecting the student and it not being vice-versa - thereby revealing eccentricities of the accomplished by and large. In reading the memoirs, you will cry, laugh, feel annoyed with three of them. For following every whim and fancy of their heart. But all in all, Sukanya's writing does make you fall in love with the three women for following their heart and doing just what they want to. Lively and easy to read this book is an interesting company.

[Divya Charen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I discovered the book in my institute library and enjoyed reading the unconventional lives of three women, who are amazing classical dancers. The unconventional adventures they had are inspiring and would make you feel like that you are not putting yourself out to the world enough.