ALASDAIR DUNCAN catches up with CAROL FURTADO, the lead dancer in THE MERCHANTS OF BOLLYWOOD, to discuss the fusion of contemporary and modern India in the show, and what audiences can expect to see.

Featuring a cast of 40 performers, lavish costumes and sets, and a soundtrack that mixes up Indian classical music with movie soundtrack songs and contemporary disco and hip hop touches, Merchants Of Bollywood has just about everything you could ask for in a theatrical production. The show charts the history of the Indian film industry through the prism of the Merchant family, offering Western audiences an insight into the inner workings of Bollywood, as well as exploring the tension between traditional values and the modern world in India.

Dancer Carol Furtado portrays the show’s central character, Ayesha. Furtado got her start as a performer in 1996, performing alongside ex-Guns ‘N Roses guitarist Slash at the launch of MTV India. Since then, she has appeared in numerous music videos, and performed alongside pop stars like A.R. Rahman, Asha Boshle and Shweta Shetty. Merchants Of Bollywood, however, represents Furtado’s most consistent and challenging creative endeavour. And having toured the world with the show, Furtado now finds herself in Australia.

ALASDAIR DUNCAN: Can you tell me a bit about the character that you play, Ayesha?

CAROL FURTADO: Ayesha epitomises the Indian modern woman I would say – she’s someone who represents the new generation, someone who’s very ambitious and very independent, very strong-headed. The core of the show represents the clash of the old and the new – her grandfather represents the old, and she represents the new. I have a great deal of respect for her, because she goes out there and makes decisions for herself. She’s someone who’s always questioning traditions, who’s not conforming with them, but not losing her sense of right and wrong. She keeps her values intact. 

AD: How do you prepare to play Ayesha – I imagine it must take a great deal of training and rehearsal every day?

CF: It does – it’s quite the workout on stage for me. It’s a combination of getting your dialogue out without gasping and panting, keeping my energy level stable through the performance, getting in and out of costume in a matter of a few seconds. Getting out of a costume like mine quickly is very difficult, because as well as all the different pieces of the outfit, you have a million pieces of jewellery, and you need to put all this together to make the look complete, or else you’re not selling the product right. So yes, you do all that, and then you’re up there with 40 people on stage, you’ve got props running, and then of course, the production is such that it’s a moving production. The space keeps changing. That’s part and parcel of show business, though. You just have to keep going.

AD: I know that the show is very acrobatic, and the dancers seem to move around constantly – it must be very arduous for you, physically. Have you ever been injured while performing?

CF: I’ve had injuries of course. I have injuries every day, but I haven’t had any dramatic or intense injuries which have really set me back, or not allowed me to do a show. I’m happy to get away with the cuts, the bruises, the bleeding, the bumps, the swollen feet every day, because they’re so much better than having a long, enduring injury that would prevent me from going on stage. I take great pride in the fact that I have done each and every show to date, and I hope I continue.

AD: Given that you come from a modern dance background, was it difficult learning the traditional dance moves?

CF: Yes – this show has been quite a learning experience for me! Classical dance is gruelling. It’s difficult to even explain, because there’s so much going on, it’s all about your form, your posture. It’s about intricate hand gestures and expression, spins at lightning speed, footwork. It’s a combination of everything put together which is actually then your performance. Considering that the show focuses on the contrast of modern versus traditional, in that respect, we need to show you the traditional side of India, then the modern, to give you that clash and that contrast. The focus is mainly on the classical dance forms that the Merchant family uphold – it’s up to Ayesha to carry those forward. You see a lot of things like temple dancing. On the flipside of that, you have Bollywood, which is an amalgamation of all dance styles from all over the world tossed in together and Indian-ised. In that respect you will definitely see a fusion of classical Indian dance with modern hip-hop and funk styles.

THE MERCHANTS OF BOLLYWOOD plays at the Lyric Theatre, QPAC, and runs from March 9 to 14. Visit www.qpac.com.au for more

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