Valli shows how she used dance to get through Chemo

Not all dancers are beautiful. I had beautiful eyes and my fame and popularity came only through my hard work and deep devotion as dance is the heart of my life, echoes Alarmel Valli, leading classical dancer and creative artiste who brings depth and naturalness to her work. 

Chennai-based Valli, has her own distinct style and her dance reflects her hard work and love for the art. Valli has taken up the Pandanallur style of classical dance form which is renowed for its choreography and slow movements. Engaging in a casual talk with the Padma Shri danseuse is enough to quickly grasp the depth of passion she has for the art form and even at 66, Valli exemplifies that age is no obstacle when it comes to pursuing one's passion. 

Valli's exceptional contributions to the field of dance were recognized with prestigious accolades. In 1991, she was bestowed with the Padma Shri, becoming the youngest dancer to receive this honor since Vijayanthimala Bali. In 2004, she was further honored with the Padma Bhushan. Besides, the French Government recognized her remarkable achievements by awarding her the Chevalier of Arts and Letters in the same year. 

Valli is also an accomplished teacher and has trained many students. She continues to inspire and influence generation of dancers. A highly talented and accomplished dancer, Valli speaks to mathrubhumi.com about how she embraced dance at a tender age, how she was groomed in choreography, her artistic interpretation of the ancient dance form and the remarkable resilience and determination she displayed in overcoming her illness.

You are an exponent of the oldest dance form namely the Pandanallur style of dance which is based on ancient Tamil literature. The slow and rthymic movements of this dance is characteristic and gives grace. Why did you take up this style of dance and who were your inspiration?

I studied directly from the great maestro Pandanallur Chokkalingam Pillai and Pandanallur Subbaraya Pillai. I started learning dance when I was six-and-a-half years. The style is very rich in glamour, it is lyrical and has lots of abhinaya rather than being dramatic. The adavu technique is more prominent in this style. During those times when I learnt dance, the fee was Rs 10 a month but it was not demanded. The students were given training not on how rich their background is but only based on how devoted the student is. It is great blessing to have studied under the doyens.  Infact I had my Arangetram under the guidance of my guru Chollalingam Pillai and after he passed away, Subbaraya Pillai was very fond of me and used to teach dance at my place itself.

What are your thoughts on the incorporation of Tamil poems from that era as the theme for the dance performance?

When I was 29 or 30, one day my mother, a literary scholar, came running to me and said “Valli, Valli, look at this poem...it would be perfect for dance". Her words ignited a spark within me and I was thinking how a dance can be transformed into a visual prayer, capturing the subtle emotions portrayed in poetry, literature, and ancient texts. I believe I may have been among the first to do dance based on Sangam Tamil on a large scale. Maybe someone would have done it before...I’m not sure. I started working on dance on Sangam Tamil and my debut was a dance form from the poetic work of Kalittogai about a young girl's journey between childhood and adolescence, exploring her awareness of the opposite sex. That was my first experience of setting poem to music. After this I did dance based on Agananuru (Tamil poetic work based on Sangam literature), Purananuru, Kalittogai, etc, all drawing inspiration from the rich tapestry of Tamil literature and the Sangam period.

As a dancer, what is the biggest challenge you have faced?

This question requires some introspection. The challenge was in a field when everyone was looking pretty I had to come up and prove myself despite not having the typical mold of a dancer. I was quite thin as a dancer. I was not a beauty and looked beautiful with the application of makeup. I had big eyes and an expressive face.  I have to prove myself based purely on my talent. Normally, it's a combination of looks and talent, with a fifty-fifty split. But I gave a hundred percent in my work, and I had unwavering support from my mother. Overcoming this obstacle was a true test for me.

The worst challenge was when my mother passed away when I was in my 60s.  Shortly thereafter, another disaster struck when I was diagnosed with cancer. As it was detected at an early stage, I am grateful to say that I have overcome it, and I am doing well now.

Was facing your illness the most significant challenge you've encountered? How did you navigate through that stage and overcome it? Did you experience emotional exhaustion throughout the process?

Cancer was not my greatest challenge. I began treatment for my cancer the moment it was detected. When my doctor told me about the disease, I was taken aback and asked surprisingly, “What! Just two months ago, a routine test showed nothing.” I overcame all those troubles and even during chemo, I danced. I was breathless but still I did not leave my dance practice. So, after 18 months of my treatment, I did a complete margam and varnam at Music Academy in Chennai. I wanted to give my absolute best because I didn't want anyone to think that my cancer diagnosis prevented me from delivering my finest performance.

The enthusiasm of students to learn dance is increasing now especially with the social media boom. Now anyone and everyone can dance. Can you discuss how a dancer can bring a performance to life. What do you think about the virtual performance boom?

There are very brilliant young dancers around us. The social media has impacted everybody. There is a constant desire to become instantly famous, driven by the need to generate likes and attention. Become instant famous...that is what everyone wants. And for that they create sensationalism. This is possible only with social media. Once, a renowned dancer from the South was asked why brilliant young dancers often fail to touch our hearts. She apparently said “these young dancers are dancing to impress. You have to become the dance and to become the dance you have to forget yourself and get into total immersion.”  

How do you stay strong and fit for your performance?

Only now in my 65th year I started weight training.  All along I danced and danced. Every day I practice dance for about 2 or 3 hours. Even if I forget, my mom never allows me to rest and pulls me on to practice. Through rigorous training, I achieved recognition and fame in my field. The dance industry can be quite competitive, with a lot of peer pressure. In an environment where everyone is clamoring for attention, it often feels like the loudest voice is the one that gets heard the most.

Besides dance, what are the activities you engage?

Music has always held a special place in my heart. As a child, I was a typical bookworm and loved reading. You cannot become a dancer without literature. My mother instilled in me a love for reading. Dance is a language and if you know how to express yourself in other language, then for me literature was my dance. During the challenging times of the Covid pandemic, I experimented with Dikupash, and I also explore my creativity as a painter. Watching movies serves as my pastime, and I particularly enjoy old films, especially those with artistic depth.

I love the mountains amd trekking, though I don’t do it nowadays. But all my childhood summer holidays were spent in Kodaikanal where we have a family home. Those were my happiest days. 

What about your family. How have you handled stress?

Life can be incredibly stressful and I think maybe because of that I got cancer. However, paradoxically, experiencing cancer turned out to be a transformative experience for me. It made me stronger and I realised my priorities. Despite undergoing radiation and chemo, I found resilience from an unknown source, for which I'm grateful to God. While I may not feel as strong now, 5 years back, my mother played a pivotal role in instilling immense strength within me during that challenging time

My husband is a dedicated bureaucrat, and he is truly a remarkable man. For 25 years, we lived apart from each other, with him stationed in Delhi and myself residing in Chennai. Our lives were separate, with his commitments in Delhi and mine in Chennai. He respects me and never imposes his opinions on my activities. I am grateful that we are finally able to be together in Chennai, and we are happily enjoying this time together.

sadna03@mpp.co.in