Karnataka, my home state, has given birth to distinctive banis (styles) of Bharatanatyam such as the Mysuru and Kolar banis, each with its own lineage and aesthetic grammar. I come from Tulunadu, a region in coastal Karnataka that is equally steeped in cultural pride. As a Bharatanatyam practitioner from this region, I have long witnessed the passion with which our gurus and artistes strive to uphold and preserve traditional art forms.

However, over the past few weeks, I have been deeply disturbed by a trend that, in my view, threatens the sanctity of the classical arts. When the news broke out that a young dancer from Mangaluru is performing Bharatanatyam for 170 hours in an attempt to set a world record, I was shocked. Not long after, another dancer from Udupi announced she would perform for 216 hours — presumably to surpass the previous feat. More recently, I have learned of yet another young dancer from Chikkaballapura district of Karnataka, who has performed for 220 hours (10 days) during Navratri. Now, I hear a dancer from Bengaluru is attempting 250 hours, even before the Chikkaballapura girl has set her record. Where are they taking this?

My initial reaction was disbelief. Is this even humanly possible? More importantly, is this even Bharatanatyam?