1. Background
I think I have been dancing for as long as I can remember!
I started going to Aarti aunty' s Bollywood dance classes when I was just a couple of months shy of four. At the time, it was mainly to hang out with my best friend Swathi, who also went to the same classes. It was convenient that Aarti aunty lived on the street right behind ours, guaranteeing playdates with Swathi for a few hours after every class. Other than those playdates and the various performances, Pioneer Square and Intel being the major venues, I really don’t remember too many specifics of those initial dance lessons.
My mom does though, and she always tells me the story of what got her to put me into a classical dance class for the first time. It was at a Pioneer square India Day performance one summer that she saw a local dance school perform a fusion piece. The dancers' super glittery jewelry and colorful outfits caught her eye. Next thing I knew, I was seated in a classical dance class, and was made to watch the students practice basic steps. I have no recollection of what transpired there that day, but my mom tells me I put up quite the protest to go to the next class, and she had to take a u-turn a few paces before we reached that dance school. I apparently ended up having a play date with Swathi instead that day:).
When I was five, I went to my first Ugaadi- new year event organized by the local Telugu association, GPTA, to participate in ManaBadi a skit. Right after we performed, we saw a group of about 15 dancers take the stage and begin their piece. I still remember how I simply couldn’t keep my eyes off of them! It was my turn to admire their intricate jewelry, their colorful dresses, in addition to their fast paced footwork. I knew right then that I wanted to dance like them one day.
Mom made some quick calls, and just like that, June 5th, 2015, came. With a simple Ganesha prayer and my touching the feet of my Guru, Anu aunty, I officially became a student of Nartana School of Kuchipudi Dance. There have never been any other U-turns on my dance journey, ever since.
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