Innate Soul: Nepal's Young Dancers Prepare for Global Stage

In a Lubhu studio, seven young dancers are bending like the wind, rehearsing a routine that they see as more than just choreography – it's a story, a rebellion, a dream. This group, calling themselves Innate Soul, believes their art emerges naturally and organically from within each performer, preparing for a journey that could lead them to an international stage.

The members hail from various parts of Nepal: Renuka Gharti Magar of Palpa, Roshan Khadka of Jhapa, Mani K. Rai of Ilam, Muskan Raut of Bhojpur, Prem Chand Pandey of Kapilvastu, Lunibha Maharjan of Kathmandu, and Prabritti Subba of Lalitpur. The spotlight today is on Prem Chand Pandey, a strong pillar of the group, whose own journey began in Yashodhara Rural Municipality, Kapilvastu.

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Where I’m from, a boy who acts or dances is called nachaniya. That’s what they called me too. But that’s just an old way of thinking.

Pandey started practicing theatre in the ninth grade, joining a local village group called "Buddha Natya Sangh." Growing up, boys who danced or acted were often derisively called "nachaniya" in his village. "Where I'm from, a boy who acts or dances is called nachaniya. That's what they called me too. But that's just an old way of thinking," Pandey recalls, reflecting on the societal norms he faced. Despite this, his passion for the stage persisted. Alongside friends, he even registered an organization called "Buddha Theatre" in his village.

After high school, Pandey moved to Kathmandu to pursue theatre, enrolling in a one-year course at Shilpee Theatre. He stayed for two more years, working and learning the technical aspects of stage production, including lighting and stage management. "It's hard to survive in Nepal as an artist alone. You need some extra skills to make life easier," he says. It was during this time, while performing in a physically driven role in a play, that choreographer Mani K. Rai noticed his potential as a dancer. Though Pandey hadn't formally danced much before, Rai, who had found his own "soul" in contemporary dance after a hip-hop background, recognized a shared artistic vision. This led Pandey to join Innate Soul, a group formally established by Rai and other dancers a year prior.

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It’s hard to survive in Nepal as an artist alone. You need some extra skills to make life easier.