Vaganova Method

Anybody can dance… BUT a perfect integration of music, movement and spatial awareness is required to be a professional dancer. That is what good training imparts. So what are the benefits of the training? Pratyusha Chhajer, founder-director of SS Ballet Academy in Ahmedabad, Gujarat, talks about some of the amazing benefits of dance.

Pratyusha Chhajer, founder-director of SS Ballet Academy

1) Neuroplasticity or brain plasticity

There is a technical and physics definition to Neuroplasticity. The term refers to the brain’s ability to change and adapt as a result of experience. The process of Neuroplasticity when we dance, can be simply defined as leading to subtle changes in the brain, which take place when the body links the memories of previous actions and movements with our dance moves. As the body dances, the brain adapts in response to the experiences. This not only increases plasticity, but helps our body synchronize our dance steps to the music. In fact, all this happens so subtly that one can even say it happens subconsciously. And it leads to the dancer getting better and better with his/her moves.

2) Dedication and discipline

Professional dancing takes a lot of will power and determination to excel. Thus one has to develop dedication to it on a long-term basis. And whatever one is dedicated to do, leads to a set regular pattern of discipline. Thus, dance can actually have people improving their focus in general, while improving their dedication and learning to be more disciplined, not only with dance, but also in the other aspects of life.

3) Improved gait and posture

Of course, it’s no rocket science that regular exercise, stretching and bodily movements can improve one’s gait and posture. But what dance actually does is, that it takes this one step further. Since dance also stimulates your brain and gives that feel-good feeling, it has the potential to activate all the cells in your body and make the body actually feel good and happy about its new improved gait and posture. It makes people more comfortable and confident about the way they look and stand. Ever thought about that?

4) Sense of inclusivity, togetherness and team spirit

At dance schools, like at our SS Ballet Academy, students get a chance to not only learn the right methods and tactics in ballet dancing, but also get to interact with other students and learn to harmonize and socially interact with cooperation. This brings in a strong sense of inclusivity, togetherness and team spirit, along with learning the art form. These little traits which we normally tend to overlook, go a long way in improving the way people interact and socialize. The sense of inclusivity in society also gives an edge to one’s personality and character.

ABOUT SS BALLET ACADEMY

For the record, SS Ballet Academy was launched by its founder-director Pratyusha Chhajer four years ago to train and develop professional dancing. Named after Pratyusha’s children Samyan and Shonaya, SSBA follows the Vaganova curriculum method of ballet. It is a style of ballet training created by Russian ballerina Agrippina Vaganova, who became a highly renowned ballet teacher and has authored the book Basic Principles of Classical Ballet. This curriculum method is marked by a fusion of the classical French style (specifically elements from the romantic era), with the athleticism of the Italian method, combined with the soulful passion of Imperial Russian Ballet.

Entrepreneur Pratuysha Chhajer who is the director of SS Ballet Academy (SSBA) in Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India, is proud that her academy follows the prestigious Vaganova Method. Recently, she also conducted an informative interview with a prominent award-winning ballet teacher Fethon Miozzi of Vaganova Ballet Academy, based at St. Petersburg, Russia.

The Indian academy has recently received certification from the internationally prestigious Conseil International de la Danse (CID); an official partner of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (popularly known as UNESCO).

The Vaganova Method is a ballet technique and training system devised by the Russian dancer and pedagogue Agrippina Vaganova (1879-1951), who became a highly renowned ballet teacher and has authored the famous book The Foundation For Dance (more commonly known as Basic Principles of Russian Classical Dance).

The method was derived from the teachings of the Premier Maitre de Ballet Marius Petipa, throughout the late 19th century. Agrippa Vaganova who perfected and cultivated this form of teaching classical ballet, turned it into a viable syllabus.

The Vaganova Method fuses elements of traditional French style from the romantic era with the athleticism and virtuosity of Italian Cecchetti technique. The method emphasizes development of strength, flexibility, and endurance for the proper performance of ballet.

The training system is designed to involve the whole body in every movement, with equal attention paid to the upper body, legs and feet. Vaganova believed that this approach increases consciousness of the body, thus creating a harmony of movement and greater expressive range.

Pratuysha Chhajer, director, SS Ballet Academy

In India, the SS Ballet Academy (named after Pratyusha’s children Samyan and Shonaya), was founded three years ago, to develop and train professional dancers. Starting operations in Indore, it became the first academy to introduce ballet to Central India. SSBA has now moved its headquarters to Ahmedabad, an economic hub with great cultural diversity in the vibrant state of Gujarat.

Certification courses and classes are available for students who wish to excel in ballet dance. In view of the pandemic, classes are currently being conducted online on Zoom and Google Classroom. However, the academy is gearing up to resume offline certification courses soon. After Indore and Ahmedabad, SSBA plans to expand its branches to Mumbai, Delhi and other cities across the country.