Astad Deboo, India's leading contemporary choreographer and performer -- probably the first to make dance accessible to everyone -- needs no introduction.

However, just to keep step...

A contemporary of Lester Horton, Asdata Daforan, Michio-Tio and Uday Shankar, Astad is a class apart. Not only has he gone through the world with a fine-tooth comb for material, which he has fruitfully combined with tradition, he has also pioneered modern dance in India -- a path-breaking step for a kathakali exponent. Above all, he made news for his giant step of dance at the Great Wall of China. As also for an unforgettable performance with Pink Floyd at Chelsea Town Hall, London. Again he broke with tradition when he became the first ever contemporary dancer to be invited to perform at the Khajuraho festival (remember his signature style on the walls of this historical town?).

What's the master's next move?

With Celebration, Astad incorporates Manipuri martialarts (called thang-ta) into his own Dance Theatre style. The four performers of the Hula Sindamsans group will give him company. And like all of Astad's works, this piece also celebrates the body, "without which no movements are possible. Also, it is a celebration of `the traditional joining hands with the contemporary', of a new direction to our performing art scenario, of aesthetic exchanges between the artists of varied influences."

But why just martial art performers from Imphal?

"Usually martial arts is traced to Kerala. People don't know that the tradition is closely linked to even Manipur." On May 7, Celebration, sponsored by MaxTouch, dances to a mixed track of Kodo drums and Gundecha Bandhu's Dhrupad at the National Centre for Performing Arts.

Next on the cards is Astad's performance with deaf artists in Washington DC.

"Yes, the tour begins with Galudet University, Washington DC, before we come back to the city in November this year." All theperformers are from Action Players, a Calcutta-based drama company of deaf artistes. And all action players have come from the 26-year-old Oral School for Deaf Children where they studied mime from actress Zarin Chaudhary. Astad has been actively involved with them "for the last 13 years only". Besides taking the special troupe across the country, Astad also performed with them at the Galudet University eight years ago.

"Most of my old artistes have got married and moved on with life. They were well-versed with base and rhythm. But the new performers are equally good. Surprisingly, a shut-out world doesn't mean shut-out sound to them. After initial training, they all respond to `our' sound very sensitively. They have sucessfully broken the silence barrier."

And he has broken into their world.

"I usually spend three to four months in a year with them. This time I have been with them for almost seven months."

Any chance of going solo, in the near future?

"Yes, for the millenniumcelebrations, I will be performing during the Khajuraho festival on December 31."

Its theme?

"That's better than asking what is my message for the next millennium. I am an artiste -- a free spirit who believes that there's always hope. The next millennium is no different. And as far as the new work goes, it's all there in my mind to which I haven't given shape yet."