Aragetrem experience

 ‘Arts are referred to as a tool to reflect and discover yourself. But performing arts are a form of expressing your inner emotions so the audience can feel a little of the happiness the art gives the presenters.

Bharatanatyam being the cosmic dance of lord shiva solicits not only the body but also the mind. Moving every single muscle in your body refreshes your mind to the extent that you see the world from a new perspective each time you dance, each time you experience a part of the bliss it gives you. 

While beginning to dance, we learn the many adavus and to discipline the body to sit in the aramandi posture. Once we started practising the adavus by perfecting each moment I understood that dancing bharatanatyam is not just an exercise for the body but an easier way to connect with the mind, through the body. As I progressed to learning small pieces and then to longer ones, my passion for bharatanatyam grew into a hobby.

Every time I was tired of studying I’d take to dancing. This way I developed a keen interest to learn the art form. I decided that I wanted to take it more seriously. My entire perspective to dance changed as I understood my weaknesses and began working on it.

Over the past year the intensive training for my arangetram was a great pleasure for me. Increasing my stamina, bringing my expressions to my face, and perfecting each movement helped me to be persistent and indulge in the cultural aspect of the society. Each day,  waking up early, getting ready for dance class and dressing up, (remembering to wear my bindi,wearing a chain each day was even difficult at the beginning) stuffing a banana and running upstairs to set up the laptop and the charger with the speaker. This had become a routine for me before my 3 hr dance class. I enjoyed the entire process thoroughly but my family sure had a hard time. My sister was almost getting fed up with listening to the same songs each day, and her main concern was that i wasn't playing with her. While my parents had almost a permanent headache from all the stamping over their heads. Each day i used to imagine that i have improved my expressions and my aramandi but i realised change is not instant. It requires a lot of persistence and support. I put all my effort each day and try different ways to correct my silly mistakes. Improving my dance made me surprised with myself not for what I can do but the amount of things I can't do even if I tried my best. It irritated my somedays and motivated me on others but I never even thought of stopping in the middle. I was able to feel a certain kind of responsibility to not only dance well but to show everyone the combined effort of many people. 

I’m extremely grateful to all my gurus for facilitating my learning in a systematic and progressive way. Without their constant support I wouldn't have been able to learn this ancient art form. Seeing my teacher each day was like getting my backbone straightened. She never got exhausted of my childish excuses to get rest. She never discouraged me even on the days I danced like I've done before. 

It is my parents' persistence motivation that helped me continue my journey with bharatanatyam. I am thankful for them to pull this entire performance off in a very small time period. I was so uncertain about the audience that was going to come (This is the trouble with families. Like an invidious doctor they know just where it’s gonna hurt.) Being at home, I saw each and every second of the planning and execution of my mother’s plans. Im grateful to my makeup artist, my stage decorator, the sound and light systems manager and the food organiser. I am thankful for all the opportunities that I've received to exhibit my passion.

A great milestone in all our lives for it was one exhilaratingly unforgettable experience all in one day. 

''What cant be said in words is expressed by art. What cant be expressed by art is understood by the heart!''

- Bharathi Senthilkumar