Learning dance has had its obstacles, but in December of 2016, I knew overcoming them had been worth it. That was when, Shilpa Mawshi, Kiran Kaka, and my parents decided that my friend and dance partner, Aarohi and I would do our Arangetram together in June 2018.

”If you can’t stop thinking about it, don’t stop working for it.” I believe this quote sums up a majority of my dance journey which started at the age of 6 when I went to my very first Bharatanatyam class. I don’t remember exactly how I felt that day, but one thought was definite – I wanted to continue learning. Every day since then whenever someone would ask me what I loved doing, my immediate answer was “dance”.

Dance and I,

For a while I enjoyed learning dance and participated in various performances until in 2011, when my family and I moved to India. I joined a dance school where we learned in large groups with each consisting of 20-30 students. This learning environment began to reduce my eagerness to continue dancing, and I stopped practicing at home or wanting to go to class.

My mom immediately recognized my change in attitude, and talked to me about changing dance schools, which I was enthusiastic about. When I began learning with a new teacher, I instantly regained my passion for dance and learned many dances, participated in performances and gave three dance exams.

In May of 2014 my family and I moved back to the US and I started learning dance with Shilpa Mawshi in 2015. But my dance journey with her had begun years before that. My first dance performance with her was a dance she choreographed for a Ganesha Festival.

Since then, I have participated in two of her productions: Ayodhyecha Raja and her recent show La Bayadère. My whole life,I have known her as Shilpa Mawshi, the most creative and cheerful aunt. But when she began teaching me, I saw that she was, and is a teacher who constantly pushes us to do our very best and one who is an incredibly innovative choreographer.

And so it began

Learning dance has had its obstacles, but in December of 2016, I knew overcoming them had been worth it. That was when, Shilpa Mawshi, Kiran Kaka, and my parents decided that my friend and dance partner, Aarohi and I would do our Arangetram together in June 2018. 

An Arangetram is a “commencement” of sorts for Bharatanatyam students. It is a performance that every dancer looks forward to from the very instance they start learning. Aarohi and I knew the journey ahead would be filled with hardships, but knowing we were embarking on it together, made us all the more excited and determined to push through them. 

The repertoire

The first dance we learned was the Varnam, or the ‘marathon-like’ dance of the Arangetram as we like to call it. Learning this particular piece first was like diving headfirst into what the Arangetram experience would be, as it is the longest dance and has both the expressional and footwork aspects to it. If the Varnam is ‘marathon-like’ then the Pushpanjali is most definitely a sprint.

The Pushpanjali is composed of complex and fast footwork, making it one of the dances that requires the most stamina. Out of the nine dances, my personal favorites are the Thillana, a pure dance piece and Jagadodharana, which is our joint Padam. Since the moment I heard the music for the Thillana, I loved its fast pace and how it immediately created an energetic environment. As for the Padam, the endearing relationship shown between Krishna and Yashoda make it an extremely enjoyable and adorable dance.

Looking back

When we began choreography, I remember Shilpa Mawshi telling us that during the next one and a half years we would encounter many obstacles such as difficulty with a certain step which sometimes might make us doubt our capabilities, but the fact that she decided to do our Arangetram, meant that with dedication and practice we would be ready. I have kept her words in mind along the way and always remember them when I am struggling.

Besides Shilpa Mawshi, my family and Kiran Kaka have always had Aarohi’s and my back by providing constant encouragement and giving us confidence so that we never faltered. The days till the Arangetram seem to be speeding by and sometimes make me nervous, however, dancing with Aarohi and unimaginable support from Shilpa Mawshi, Kiran Kaka and my family makes it feel less intimidating. Overall, this Arangetram journey has been incredible and I can’t wait to perform and showcase my achievement as a dancer.

<– My arangetram Experience

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