A recent conversation with esteemed local cultural figure, Dr Ranjit Lalloo, has cast a spotlight on the significant financial challenges confronting artists in Lenasia, Johannesburg. Despite a deep-seated commitment to preserving cultural heritage through disciplines like traditional dance, practitioners receive little to no financial remuneration, making it nearly impossible to pursue the arts as a viable career.
Dr Lalloo, a medical doctor and the founder of the renowned Jhankar School of Dance, explained that his extensive 50-year medical practice was essential to fund his true calling in dance. He described the journey of cultural preservation as largely passion-driven, a labour of love undertaken without the expectation of monetary gain. For years, he and others travelled to surrounding towns to teach, fuelled by a desire to keep cultural traditions alive within the community.
This commitment, however, meets a harsh reality: the arts are not financially supported. Dr Lalloo noted the irony of artists being celebrated with small gifts while being expected to cover substantial production costs — from theatre and sound system rentals to marketing and professional fees— out of their own pockets.
He recounted how a single performance at Gold Reef City could cost approximately R60 000, a sum that is impossible to recoup, let alone profit from. This lack of financial backing from both official structures and the community makes a career in the arts unsustainable.
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The Role of Language and Authentic Training
A core theme of the discussion was the critical link between language and the authentic interpretation of cultural art forms. Dr Lalloo lamented the decline of formal mother-tongue education, such as the closure of Gujarati schools. He argued that without understanding the language of a song or performance, the expression becomes superficial, a mere imitation of movements seen online rather than a meaningful interpretation.
“If you don’t know the meaning of the language of the song, or anything that you have picked up, it’s very difficult to interpret it properly. Otherwise, you just do some acrobatic movements or something that you’ve just picked up from a YouTube channel. It’s very important that they know the language, they know the culture,” he stated.
His school, therefore, insisted that students translate and understand the nuances of the language behind their performances, ensuring a deeper connection to the art’s cultural roots.
The conversation also touched on the modern challenge posed by the ease of digital imitation. Dr Lalloo expressed concern that the younger generation often copies dance routines from online videos without seeking formal training from a “guru.” He stressed that proper technique and an understanding of the history and theory of dance are essential to prevent the art form from becoming shallow.
His life’s work has been a passion-driven effort to create a balance between embracing new influences, like fusion music, and honouring the foundational traditions.
Ultimately, Dr Lalloo’s account is a call for greater support for the arts. He hopes that community bodies might step in to provide the financial backing necessary for the next generation to continue this vital cultural work. While his efforts have successfully ignited and sustained interest in traditional dance for decades, the future of these passion-driven endeavours remains precarious without a fundamental shift in how the community and its institutions value and support their artists.
Image: JKG International School
