Bharathnatyam

Bharathnatyam

Bharathnatyam is a classical dance form of India, which is very popular in the southern part of the country and especially in Tamil Nadu. Almost every girl in Chennai learns this beautiful art form for at least a year. So it was no wonder when my mother asked me, about 11 years ago, whether I would like to learn Bharathnatyam. I agreed only because my neighbour was learning as well (no surprises there!). Little did I know that the consequences of my oh-so-naïve answer would turn out to be so wonderful.

My uneventful, initial days of learning were really. I walked down the road to class twice a week and learnt the basics pretty quickly in about a year (Usually it takes around 2 years to complete the basics). I liked to dance, yes, but didn’t love it. It was then that my mother decided that another teacher would be a good option. That was how I met my Guru, Smt Anita Gu ha. From then onwards, there was no turning back. Thanks to my amazing guru, I now love dance. I went to classes 4 times a week (often even 5 or 6 times!!). In all these years, there has not been a single dull class. There has not been a single class when I haven’t laughed, when I haven’t worked hard, when I have stayed idle or when I haven’t had fun-not one single class. I would rush home from school, gobble my food and travel 45 minutes to class. This is the only long journey that I truly love (according to me, any journey for more than 15 minutes by car is an absolute bore). The reason was the one and a half hours (sometimes even 3 or 4 hours) of dancing at the end. I would return home exhausted but revitalised and refreshed, and most importantly, happy.

I have performed all over India, both solo and in groups. My first solo performance was in 2006 - my Arangetram, as it is called.

My years of dancing have made me the person I am today. I love the joy of dancing. It gives me immense pleasure to dance. It is a way to express myself. And I have often found that dance imitates life. There are always things in dance that you can relate to. Dancing has increased my concentration. It is also the most effective stress buster I know of. It is an avenue to forget the little things that may have gone wrong that day (which miraculously become alright after dance class!!) Assignments, projects and homework seem more inviting after dancing. I score better on exams when I have had a dance class or even stage performances the previous day. Dance is an amazing memory booster and, of course, a way of exercise. It is always after a practice session that I am at my best spirits. As it is said, practice makes a man perfect. The same is true of dance. Only here, dancing takes me a step closer to perfection, not only in dance but in all aspects of life.

As I mentioned before, I owe my love for dance to my guru. She is a very affectionate and kind person, the likes of whom I am sure I can never find in my life. I have learnt from her, ideals like passion, hard work, sincerity, patience, respect for people and their work, love, caring and sharing, humility, discipline, devotion, punctuality(though I failed at that one) and even a sense of humour. Having participated in dozens and dozens of group performances, I also learnt the value of team spirit, selflessness, and a lot about friendship and relationships with people.

To me, Bharathnatyam is not just any art form. It is my passion. Even though there are times, due to my education, when I am not able to dance as much as I want to, my passion for this magnificent art form continues now and forever….