<img style="float: left;" src="https://images.mid-day.com/images/2020/dec/Ashley-Lobo-OP.jpg" alt="" />I have known Astad Deboo since I was a youngster of 15 or 16. He was then already establishing his journey as a contemporary dancer. At that time, I thought of him as an explorer who charted untouched ground. My first thoughts about him were - wow, great, innovative. That subconsciously influenced me; he was my role model.
<img title="Deboo during a workshop with students of a municipal school in Currey Road in 2011. File pic" src="https://images.mid-day.com/images/2020/dec/Astad-Deboo-b.jpg" alt="Deboo during a workshop with students of a municipal school in Currey Road in 2011. File pic" /> Deboo during a workshop with students of a municipal school in Currey Road in 2011. File pic
Firstly, choosing dance as a career path was a brave act back in the day. And then, to do it the way he did - he had training in Indian forms and also went outside of that. He backpacked around the world to find his own art - that was not normal for an Indian artiste then; there was a bohemia about him which was very appealing to me when I was young. When I came back to Bombay is when I got a chance to meet him. Each time I had a premiere, I would call up Astad, and he would always make it. He would sit there, talk to me about his thoughts and share ideas. What he always told me was: keep it rooted.
Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.mid-day.com/articles/renowned-dancer-astad-deboo-dies-in-mumbai-at-73/23134286">Renowned dancer Astad Deboo dies in Mumbai at 73</a>
<img title="Deboo and designer Krishna Mehta at Sophia College in 2013. File pic" src="https://images.mid-day.com/images/2020/dec/Astad-Deboo-c.jpg" alt="Deboo and designer Krishna Mehta at Sophia College in 2013. File pic" /> Deboo and designer Krishna Mehta at Sophia College in 2013. File pic
What I find exceptional about him is that he took traditional dance forms, broke their boundaries, and elevated them to the international stage. He did the same with indigenous dance forms; reprogrammed them and put them out there for a much wider, international audience to see. That&rsquo;s an incredible service to Indian art.
He was always pushing the barriers and boundaries - be it himself dancing, the locales he explored or costumes. I think he was a universal gypsy, who happened to be born in India, understood the ethos and philosophy of his roots and translated that into a language that was more global, and yet unique to him. At the same time, he was a giver - if there was a need, he would be in there, doing it. A lot of his work came from his empathy for humanity.
Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.mid-day.com/articles/ashley-lobo-remembers-astad-deboo-india-has-lost-one-of-the-modern-pioneers-and-legends-of-contemporary-dance/23135229">Ashley Lobo remembers Astad Deboo: India has lost one of the modern pioneers and legends of contemporary dance</a>
I&rsquo;ll miss seeing his face at my shows, going up to him and seeing his beautiful smile. He&rsquo;s someone who called a spade a spade, and that, for me, is the rawness of an artist. But most of all, I&rsquo;ll miss his wisdom. The thought that I won&rsquo;t see Astad anymore is heart-breaking.
Ashley Lobo is a celebrated choreographer and contemporary dancer
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Contemporary dancer Ashley Lobo pays tribute to his barrier-breaking role model who inspired him to push boundaries, stay rooted

Astad Deboo (1947-2020): The Universal Gypsy

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Astad Deboo (1947-2020): The Universal Gypsy

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