April 5, 2015

Dancing : My way of life...

In the year 1990, a couple decided to teach their daughter a new language. When the little girl turned six, a language expert was called home to teach her. He arrived one fine day and asked her name. The girl replied with a coy smile. He blessed her and thus began her lessons. He started by teaching her the alphabets of this new language and asked her to depict it. Not using books and pencils but with her hands and legs. Slowly and steadily she learnt the building blocks and in due course realized that she had been led to a whole new world. 

The couple described here are my loving and supportive parents

The language expert is my beloved Guru - my first dance teacher who introduced me to performing arts. 

And the little girl is me who had been taught a new language - the language of "dance".

What started as an initial parental interest later bloomed into an undying passion for me towards this performing art. And that's my answer for this week's Friday Reflections.

"I feel happiest in my skin when… I dance." :)

With each passing day, I wonder how this passion came to be. Sure, I could sum it up by saying I love dancing and stop at that but that isn't self-explanatory of how much this art has given me in return. How it has made me fall in love with it over and over again. 

1. It's a never-ending journey

They say - "Dance is a conversation between body and soul". It's true - over the years it made me realize how dance has grown to be a special part of me and how it defines who I am today. It's an everlasting process fueled by passion. Without passion, you could stop the journey any moment you want to. 


We should consider every day lost on which we have not danced at least once. - Friedrich Nietzsche

2. It's more than just glamour

As a kid, I used to love the lovely costumes, the intricate jewelry and the elaborate makeup a dancer needs to adorn before ascending the stage. Over time, it made me realize that the stroke of the brush to highlight the eye or the cheek was to help emphasize the character I was playing. It made me understand that when I dance, I turn into a story-teller who needs to look different.  

And it didn't matter even if I didn't look glamorous enough. All it takes is a simple hand gesture to convey the expression.


I dance for myself. I dance to forget the world. 

Dance, when you’re broken open. Dance, if you’ve torn the bandage off. Dance in the middle of the fighting. Dance in your blood. Dance when you’re perfectly free. - Rumi

3. Dance has paid me "a lot"

A friend once said to me - "Why do you dance if you don't get paid for it? If you were paid money or something in return, it would have meant much more." 

The statement did hurt me endlessly but I kept quiet and chose not to answer. Since this was the "only" person out of a million friends who felt it was not fruitful to invest time or energy in doing something worthwhile, my mind chose to rest the issue. 

I feel grateful every single moment of my life to my family and my teachers for their unrelenting support and everlasting belief in me. They steered me into this art and gave me so much more than I ever could have asked for. 

It's a gift for life ! :)

The dance is over, the applause subsided, but the joy and feeling will stay with you forever. - W.M. Tory

4. My favorite form of exercise

I am sure everyone has their own gym routines. Treadmills, weights, cardio workouts and what not. As for me, I enjoy an initial half hour of warm up and then pure dancing. It is the one activity that helps me focus on my entire body (including my mind, thoughts and inner self) rather than just a part of it. 

It helps to focus and improve on not only physical characteristics but also my social, cognitive and aesthetic skills.


Life is the dancer and you are the dance. - Eckhart Tolle


**This post is part of the Ultimate Blog Challenge.**


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14 comments:

  1. I so wanted to join to dance class when I was a kid! Sigh, my mom loved classical music more and I ended up learning that! No complaints there, but still, if given a choice, I will still choose Dance :)

    Double Jeopardy

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    1. That's nice Swathi :) I would say it's never to start learning dance too. You already have the musical background for it which is an added advantage ;)

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  2. Oh my goodness this really spoke to my soul. I love my dance too, dance is in my blood, yet I gave the study of dance away too soon, I still dance, just for me. I often struggle with the financials of paying out for all the dance my daughters do, but when I see what it does for them we continue with their studies. My daughter Aspen preformed last year at a Gala with two live singers and she brought the audience to tears, it is moments like that which make it all worthwhile. A wonderful, beautiful post. You are so talented and both Janine and I are so thrilled that you have linked up with us! Thank you.

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    1. Thank you for your kind words, Mackenzie. It's wonderful knowing how much a performance can move people even when words seem less. My heartfelt wishes to your daughter to that. :)

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  3. You summed up dancing for me beautifully in "Dance is a conversation between body and soul". I don't do any formal dancing though I wish I had learned one of the Indian dances, but for me dancing is a spiritual meditation. Your friend simply doesn't get that. I love this post. Thanks so much for sharing

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    1. Your words are so true - Dance is a spiritual meditation and not just a definitive art. Thanks for your encouraging words, Suzy :)

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  4. A very beautiful post, straight from the dancer's heart. Keep dancing!

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    1. Thanks for stopping by, Beloo. :) Glad you liked it !

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  5. Gosh this makes me think about how long it has been since I've been dancing of any kind! I used to LOVE dancing, both formally and out at the clubs. I really need to get my feet and body moving again! Thanks for joining us. Loved reading you xx

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    1. Thanks Janine. There is never a "USED TO" phase with dance. You can and will always dance. :) So get on the dance floor right away.

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  7. I agree with your reasons for dance, it frees our mind, body & soul. I learned dancing as a kid and just love it even today. I don't dance much now, think I should start again. Thanks for a very inspiring post.

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    1. Thanks Inderpreet ! You should dance as and when you feel like. Remember the saying - "Dance like no one is watching." :) So go ahead and just "DANCE"!

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  8. I wanted to learn dancing when I was a kid. But my mom, who danced throughout her childhood, felt that dance is not useful for many reasons. Now, Years later after I became a mom, I dance with my son. Not the traditional ones, just dance with no reservations or judgements. It's liberating!

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