“Make it clean, make it sharp, one more time, smile, you’re late”, these are some of the many things dancers hear over and over again. However, these are the same words that push us to work harder and chase that impossible perfection. Dance is a beautiful form of art that requires stamina, perseverance, and passion. The performance presented for a few minutes on stage is a result of the countless hours that have been spent practicing and perfecting the dance.
My journey as a dancer started in the fifth grade, as a Bollywood dancer. During this time, I was a very shy person and had difficulty expressing myself. I always had an irrational fear of performing in front of others. I understood that practice was the only way I could have confidence in myself, and with constant practice, I learned proprioception (the awareness of your body in space). After my first performance, I acquired a lot of confidence in myself. With this confidence, I tried out for my school dance team and went completely out of my comfort zone. During this time, I learned the importance of practice and repetition, as we would practice every single day for two hours with only a day off on Sunday. I saw many talented dancers during our competitions and knew that I had a long way to go. The inspiration around me pushed me to improve myself. After the end of the eighth grade, considering learning Bharatnatyam, as I longed to dance again.
Finally, during the ninth grade, I started learning Bharatnatyam. Getting to this decision was an excruciatingly slow process. I spent hours pacing back and forth in my room because I knew that Bharatnatyam would be a journey filled with hard work and commitment. Finally, I decided that I would try it and see if it was something I was interested in. Little did I know that one class would have me completely in awe. Every class I learned something new and loved every moment of it. My teacher, Vasanthy Raja, has always been there to support me and teach me more every day. Bharatnatyam pushes me to my limits and encourages me to work harder. It has taught me how to listen and feel the music. I have learned the importance of balance, in dance, and in life. I became more independent, and more in control of myself. I also found my weaknesses, and have learned ways to work on them. Despite learning so much, I know that there is always more to learn. In addition to this, I saw myself grow. I became more independent, and more in control of myself. Today, dance has become a part of me that defines who I am as a person.
My journey as a dancer has made me evolve into a completely different person from who I was in the fifth grade, and I also know that I will never stop learning and evolving as a dancer.