Law professor: Indian classical dancer
- Dance Magazine
- By Jacqui Gal
Photo: David Hou
Natasha Bakht never really had to choose between her legal and dance careers. In fact, until she was 22 and received an invitation to dance full time at the Shobana Jeyasingh Dance Company in London, Bakht (who is from Toronto) didn’t realize that being an Indian classical dancer could even constitute a career.
“Growing up, there weren’t very many role models,” says Bakht, who began studying Bharatanatyam when she was five. “I knew that my teacher, who was certainly also a performer, made most of her money through teaching. At the time that didn’t strike me as something I wanted to do. So, I created other dreams.”
Ever since watching a television special about a good-hearted lawyer as a child, Bakht knew that she would one day study law. When her dance school turned part-time professional, Bakht (then 15) was swept along for the ride. She juggled dancing, high school, and then college until the London offer came through. With three years toward a bachelor’s degree in drama and political science under her belt, Bakht put her studies on hold to dance professionally at SJDC.
“It’s not so unusual for Indian classical dancers who have gone to school to continue with their dance careers,” says Bakht. “It’s harder if you’re a ballet or contemporary dancer, in part because there are training institutions that expect you to be there full time. Because there are no such training institutions in Indian dance, we tend to go to school, get a university education, and dance in the evenings and on weekends.”
Today, Bakht is an assistant professor in the Faculty of Law at the University of Ottawa, where she focuses on women’s issues as they relate to religion and culture. She also choreographs and performs (mostly solo pieces), and her work sometimes refers to her legal interests.
“I’ve noticed in recent years that the things that interest me—whether they are in dance or the law—are the same. My research in law tends towards women’s issues, and I like to tell the stories of women in my dance pieces.”
Balancing two demanding careers comes down to good scheduling and a flexible work environment. “If I was a practicing lawyer at a law firm it would probably be impossible to continue a dance career,” explains Bakht. “But at the university I have colleagues who are extremely supportive.”
With such dedication to two professional pursuits, finding vacation time is not easy. But on the bright side, she says, “I am fortunate in that dancing feels like a real break from the law and law feels like a real break from dancing.”