A biography that unveils the iconic life, innovative choreography, and enduring legacy of Astad Deboo, a pioneer of Indian modern dance.
Astad Deboo (1947–2020), widely considered a pioneer of modern dance in India, was globally renowned for his distinctive style, characterized by meditative minimalism, gravity-defying backbends, and signature whirls which defined his innovative approach to form and content. In this first biography and book-length appreciation of Deboo’s work, Ketu H. Katrak unveils the remarkable life, choreography, and legacy of this groundbreaking figure in Indian modern dance. Through a comprehensive exploration, readers journey from Deboo's formative years in Jamshedpur and Bombay to his global endeavors that shaped his unique dance style.
Divided into four parts, this biography sheds light on various aspects of Deboo’s life and career: his youth, schooling, and the friendships that shaped him; his solo choreography, which boldly addressed social issues and fused modern dance with traditional elements; his humanitarian spirit, showcasing group choreography with deaf performers and Manipuri drum-dancers; and his mastery in collaborating with artists from India and abroad.
From receiving prestigious awards to transforming lives through dance, traveling around the world for over five decades yet being firmly rooted in Indian soil, Deboo left an indelible mark on contemporary Indian dance. Astad Deboo: An Icon of Contemporary Indian Dance pays homage to the dancer’s legendary status, emphasizing his unparalleled dedication and resilience—a guiding light for aspiring dancers striving to realize their artistic visions. It is a valuable addition to scholarship on dance studies, performance studies, and South Asian studies.
Astad Deboo (1947–2020), widely considered a pioneer of modern dance in India, was globally renowned for his distinctive style, characterized by meditative minimalism, gravity-defying backbends, and signature whirls which defined his innovative approach to form and content. In this first biography and book-length appreciation of Deboo’s work, Ketu H. Katrak unveils the remarkable life, choreography, and legacy of this groundbreaking figure in Indian modern dance. Through a comprehensive exploration, readers journey from Deboo's formative years in Jamshedpur and Bombay to his global endeavors that shaped his unique dance style.
Divided into four parts, this biography sheds light on various aspects of Deboo’s life and career: his youth, schooling, and the friendships that shaped him; his solo choreography, which boldly addressed social issues and fused modern dance with traditional elements; his humanitarian spirit, showcasing group choreography with deaf performers and Manipuri drum-dancers; and his mastery in collaborating with artists from India and abroad.
From receiving prestigious awards to transforming lives through dance, traveling around the world for over five decades yet being firmly rooted in Indian soil, Deboo left an indelible mark on contemporary Indian dance. Astad Deboo: An Icon of Contemporary Indian Dance pays homage to the dancer’s legendary status, emphasizing his unparalleled dedication and resilience—a guiding light for aspiring dancers striving to realize their artistic visions. It is a valuable addition to scholarship on dance studies, performance studies, and South Asian studies.
Table of Contents
List of Illustrations
PART I: Enter Astad Deboo
Preface: A Journey in Dance
1: Childhood/Youth in Jamshedpur
2: Gift of Friendship: Greeting Cards, Dhanshak and a Foodie
3: An Ardent Traveller
PART II: Milestones in a Dancer’s Life
4: Early Solo Choreography: New Themes and Forms 1970s and 1980s
5: 1990s: Drupad at the Khajurao Dance Festival; Puppetry and Dance
6. Astad’s Signature Style in Contemporary Indian Dance
PART III: Group Choreography with Marginal Communities
7. Deaf Actors and Dancers in Kolkata, Washington DC, Chennai.
8. Manipuri dancers from India’s Northeast.
9. Street Youth of Salaam Baalak Trust, New Delhi.
PART IV: Collaborations with Theatre, Music and Dance Artists in India and Transnationally
10. Korean Theater Director, Hyoung-Taek Limb in Hamlet Avataar; With Korean and
Indian Musicians in Same Same but Different.
11. Japanese Flautist Yukio Tsuji in Eternal Embrace
12. Ketu Katrak Co-editor, Marg Magazine, ‘Contemporary Dance in India.’
13. Indian Rudra Veena player Bahau’d-din Dagar in Inter Connect
14. Bharatanatyam dancer, Hema Rajagopalan, Inai (The Connection), Chicago
15. Costume Designers and Photographers
16: Space and Transgressing Spatial Boundaries
Conclusion: Astad’s Final Bow. Tributes from the Dance and Media Fraternity
Glossary
List of Interviews
Acknowledgments
PART I: Enter Astad Deboo
Preface: A Journey in Dance
1: Childhood/Youth in Jamshedpur
2: Gift of Friendship: Greeting Cards, Dhanshak and a Foodie
3: An Ardent Traveller
PART II: Milestones in a Dancer’s Life
4: Early Solo Choreography: New Themes and Forms 1970s and 1980s
5: 1990s: Drupad at the Khajurao Dance Festival; Puppetry and Dance
6. Astad’s Signature Style in Contemporary Indian Dance
PART III: Group Choreography with Marginal Communities
7. Deaf Actors and Dancers in Kolkata, Washington DC, Chennai.
8. Manipuri dancers from India’s Northeast.
9. Street Youth of Salaam Baalak Trust, New Delhi.
PART IV: Collaborations with Theatre, Music and Dance Artists in India and Transnationally
10. Korean Theater Director, Hyoung-Taek Limb in Hamlet Avataar; With Korean and
Indian Musicians in Same Same but Different.
11. Japanese Flautist Yukio Tsuji in Eternal Embrace
12. Ketu Katrak Co-editor, Marg Magazine, ‘Contemporary Dance in India.’
13. Indian Rudra Veena player Bahau’d-din Dagar in Inter Connect
14. Bharatanatyam dancer, Hema Rajagopalan, Inai (The Connection), Chicago
15. Costume Designers and Photographers
16: Space and Transgressing Spatial Boundaries
Conclusion: Astad’s Final Bow. Tributes from the Dance and Media Fraternity
Glossary
List of Interviews
Acknowledgments