My Dancing Journey

What is it about dancing that I am so passionate about it? I think my mind relaxes when I dance. It almost feels like meditation when there are no particular thoughts in my mind and I am only swaying to the beats of the music.

I was in 3rd grade when my parents wanted me to join a hobby/ activity class. My dad wanted me to join karate while my mom wanted me to join a dancing class. Both these classes were conducted in an "Academy" per say. I remember coming back from school around 4 in the afternoon and mom took me to this academy. My best friend at that time had just joined Manipuri dancing that was taught by "Jhaveri Sisters" in the Academy.  http://www.darshanajhaveri.com/manipuridance.html
I remember peeping through doors and watching girls my age (2nd, 3rd grade) learn Karate, Kathak, Bharatnatyam, etc in the Academy. But since my best friend was learning Manipuri, I wanted to learn Manipuri.

For those who are not aware, these dance forms (Manipuri, Bharata-natyam, Kathak, Kathakali, Kuchipudi, and Orissi) are classical Indian dance forms based on the different regions in India and have been passed down through generations.

Manipuri dance form originated in the eastern state of Manipur. Manipuri dance is purely religious and its aim is a spiritual experience. Development of music and dance has through religious festivals and daily activities of the Manipuri people and is based on Lord Krishna and Radha's stories. Not only is dance a medium of worship and enjoyment, a door to the divine, but indispensable for all socio-cultural ceremonies. From the religious point of view and from the artistic angle of vision, Manipuri Classical Form of dance is claimed to be one on the most chestiest, modest, softest and mildest but the most meaningful dances of the world.
The most obliging aspect of Manipuri culture is that, it has retained the ancient ritual based dances and folk dances along with the later developed classical Manipuri dance style.  Video: http://www.darshanajhaveri.com/video.html

I learned this dance form for 10 years while growing up and even received a national scholarship from the Indian Government. Around 12th grade, studying for competitive exams became more important than spending 2 hours a week on dancing. Thus I stopped going to class which I highly regret today. I owe my graceful dancing, my ability to learn any dance quickly, the discipline, passion and my love for dancing to my class. I remember summer vacation, it was mandatory for all the girls in the class to join a 3 week workshop where we danced from 7 am to 11 am every day and at the end of the workshop, we gave a performance in front of our families. I so hated going to these workshops as it was grueling. It was not just dancing, but 2 hours of rigourous execrcise before we actually started our dance. I was in best best shape while growing up. We also had a TV performance when we performed on Doordarshan, our national TV channel.  (BTW: In the video, the girl on the extreme right was my best friend when I was in 3rd grade and she has continued to pursue this.)






Coming back to the present, I have realized, the one passion that I have after traveling ofcourse and eating ofcourse :) is dancing. I can learn and pick up steps so easily when I am doing salsa or tango. I have always loved aerobic dancing. I not only performed but also choreographed two dance sequences while I was at Purdue.

Dancing is always going to be a part of me. Whether I go back to learning the Indian classical version or the more western dance forms such as ball room dancing or salsa, or whether I perform on stage in an Indian gathering, or I dance at a friend's or cousin's wedding, or I go clubbing or just put on music when I am at home and jump around in my living room. I feel elated, light headed, worry -less, sexy, sensuous, calm, graceful, all at the same time.

So I take time out...to dance! :)