The Artiste and Sustainability: Nurturing Prodigious talent

Be it in the field of science, mathematics, language, sport or art, children with capabilities that far supersede those of their peers have often piqued the interest of academia and lay public. To put such prodigious talent on the same level as other children their age may seem ridiculous to those who believe that exceptional talent must be celebrated. An exceptional singer, say, who at the age of 4 can differentiate and even sing in several different ragas; a gifted dancer, say, who can perform complex patterns of pure dance with awe-inspiring ease; a gifted artist probably, who can within minutes create dimensional imagery that many adults would struggle with. The intent of this article is not to delve into the psychological aspects of prodigies, the nature of talent, intelligence etc. The intent here is to look at the larger environment in which these geniuses live. What are the factors that help them thrive? What are the factors that can potentially kill their enthusiasm? What is the ideal manner of nurturing this inherent talent?

The initial signs of prodigious talent are for parents and teachers to pick up. These may include an uncanny ease to absorb what is being taught, an ability to remember details accurately, the ability of limbs or vocal chords to be completely in sync with thought and emotion, a grasp over the vocabulary of art that is much beyond their age and so on. Once these initial signs have been picked up, what occurs over the subsequent years of childhood and adolescence determines the future of this child genius and his/her tryst with art. Let us understand first that child-geniuses, although highly gifted, never make the decisions regarding showcasing of their talent. It is the parents and teachers who make these decisions on their behalf. And to a great extent, social norms and cultural preferences influence the manner in which these decisions are taken. Even the tag of "child-prodigy" is thrust on a child by those around him/her, it is never self-professed. Does the genius continue to function unhindered by such adulation? Or does the adulation lay the seeds of arrogance? Conversely does this adulation cause the genius to curl back into a shell?
All three scenarios have occurred in the past. And therefore, it is very important that the temperament of this child genius is gauged well by parents and gurus before asking the child to shoulder such responsibility in public view.

Moving past the phase of adulation, a child genius performing under public scrutiny unknowingly sets a certain standard of expectation. God forbid that the child falls short of this expectation at a certain time, as adults are we mature enough to handle this evolving phase of the child? Or are we too demanding, forgetting sometimes that the genius is in fact just a child? As parents and Gurus, do we lay more pressure than the child can handle at these sensitive junctures? Can we be discerning enough to know what is a push in the right direction versus what is a shove in the wrong direction? While few children have been guided sensitively and protected from discouraging criticism effectively, many have unfortunately given up on their immense talent, simply because the adults around them could not handle those momentary lapses - the loss is that of Art alone.

Consider a progression into a third phase. As adolescents or young adults, these genius artistes are now more aware of the environment in which they function. They would like to begin making decisions about their art on their own. Taking more accountability and responsibility of their passion that has so far been driven by others is a time for patience. Patience on the part of those around more than the artiste. From here on, the pace, intensity and diligence with which to pursue the art is for the artiste to decide- this can be a phase that lasts from a few moments of realisation to years of experimentation, learning, un-learning,understanding, assimilating and and ultimately coming to own the art. It is at this phase that many chose to pass judgement. Judgments can be toxic- few artistes are able to counter them, few can shrug them off, some may internalise them, many will be demotivated by them. As an audience, if we are more open-minded about the limitless possibilities that lie in front of the artiste, this phase can be the most motivating for the artiste. Every experiment and every step will seem worthy of the time and energy.

There also comes a time, not always but sometimes, when the artist who was celebrated as a genius as a child is now seen to be on par with contemporaries. The audience fails to see any exceptional talent, sometimes even dismissing them as below par. What could lead to this situation? It could be undue pressure, discouragement or unnecessary exposure at a time when the artiste is still trying to find his/her own identity. It could even be a combination of the above or complacency on the part of the artiste or factors that we cannot fathom. Again, this is a time for patience on our part and introspection on the part of the artiste.

For the child genius who flourishes, thrives  and grows from strength to strength throughout life, we owe it to the guiding lights- sensitive parents and gurus, encouraging schools, generous mentors, supportive families, far-sighted teachers and several more pillars of strength.

Let us simultaneously deliberate on the responsibility of the audience. While we applaud exceptional talent, let us keep a check on our rising expectations, let us be kind and considerate of children 'growing up', let us respect the decisions that these geniuses make with respect to their art, let us celebrate the art that they present to us and not intrude their personal space. The lives of celebrated geniuses is not an easy one to live. It will  however remain a matter of great interest, and concern too!

Expert Speak: I asked veteran artiste, Bharatanatyam Guru Smt. Minal Prabhu to elaborate on a few questions that lingered on.

As a teacher, what is your instant response to seeing exceptional talent?
When I see exceptional talent it gives me immense joy . It can be wonderful to teach a child who learns well and fast. As a teacher it is important to keep the child challenged and also to know if the speed at which you teach is the right one . 
2.What is the best way to nurture this talent?
To nurture this talent we have to inculcate the habit of constant

practise and hard work because it is difficult to make them realise that hard work is required . They tend to take their talent for granted. I have seen an above average child do better because of hard work as against a talented person who does not believe in hard work. 

3. Is there such a thing as unnecessary exposure for a talented child? (considering that there is much that be done with reality TV, youtube, social media etc)
I believe it is important to choose the banner In which the child is presented. In this matter the parents should have faith in the teachers judgement. I have had the misfortune of having talented children being exposed to television shows because the parents seek instant fame . The real reason for learning this art form gets lost in the exposure to the reality shows where the children are expected to do all sorts of fusion which our dance form does not need.   
4. Which, according to you, is the most sensitive juncture in an artist's life, in terms of making decisions regarding their art?
At a very young age the child should understand that classical Art forms are not easy to learn and master and if they have mastered it easily they still need to work at it to be able to maintain the position that they have acquired because of their exceptional talent. 
5. Where does one find a balance between hype and normalcy?
It is up to the parents and teacher and siblings to ground the child .