Saturday 22 October 2016

MAKING OF A 'PROFESSIONAL DREAMER-PERFORMER' AT THE UNIVERSITY OF HYDERABAD !


This note is for all aspiring buds who wish to take Dance/Performing arts as career.

When I decided to join HCU, I didn't know what a Central University is !! My Amma exhorted me to take up the course(PG in Dance) if and only if I get through the arduous Entrance test, Practical exam and the Interview at #hcu. Even after cracking them, I was wondering what's so special about the MPA there, what makes it different from all other universities(distant/regular) which gives MA in dance. To be frank, I was constantly down when I saw many of my friends acquiring a similar degree with much lesser efforts (even by attending classes once in 2 months or so.) I still remember the way Aswathy Bhavani explained about the structure of our course, although I grasped only the "dancing" part of it.

But today I jot down my experience at the Department of Dance, HCU with at most happiness and pride. They are absolutely unalike in standards, I would say.
The course provided insight into more intellectual components which helped me to upscale and consolidate the theoretical aspects of Arts. We got the unique opportunity to explore creatively how Performing Arts can be developed as a discipline and applied to the world at large, as a way of thinking and conceptualizing business, as an educational tool, as a pure artistic endeavor and so on. We started thinking of Dance as both an autonomous art form and as something that can have a range of applications in the world.

And the most important part is that, the daunting task of learning a different perspective towards Dance made me aware of my ignorance !! The more I learnt, the more I realized I don't know. The department taught 'When you know a thing, to hold that you know it, and when you do not know a thing, to allow that you do not know it and learn it'

All my thanks to the most important person in my life- My Amma Jyothy Sasikumar , Devichechi who influenced Amma to send me there(in 2008) the professors who profoundly altered the whole course of my life Dr.Anuradha Jonnalagadda, Dr. Sivaraju MunagapatiDr. Aruna Bhikshu+Harimohan Paruvu  and all the visiting scholars.

Wednesday 6 April 2016

"HEALING AND GROWING THROUGH KUCHIPUDI "

   Last few weeks I felt utmost quietude and peace in giving a few hours of my schedule to those differently abled, distinctly talented ones of Rajah Rehabilitation Centre as part of "Healing and Growing through Kuchipudi ". Felt again that the techniques of Kuchipudi seem to override the pain and mentalagony from being born with a physical deformity.
          My first finding was that the interest of the child is of paramount importance.These kids are in absolutely no way less qualified. For the society to tap the fruits of generations, all we need to do is consider them as a part of our society, fit them with us, help them PATIENTLY, to grow, to excel, have belief in their abilities, do not be afraid or remain aloof from them, be open minded and above all, TALK TO THEM, connect with them, encourage them.
          The biggest challenge for me was not in dealing with them, but in dealing with my own distress which banged me upon realizing that I had been living my life with all prosperity, but still complaining, without acknowledging how blessed we are, and doing nothing to the society.
                       Let "Changing Lives Through a Little for a Lot" be "our" mission.
If you love dance, you will !! That was the first time I felt that dance can not only make me happy, but also help me spread the happiness that I am blessed with !!

Tuesday 5 April 2016

Shades of Happiness !!





Shades of Happiness !! Completed my first Workshop session "HEALING AND GROWING THROUGH KUCHIPUDI" at the Kasthurba Children's home (Bala Sadanam), Guruvayur.

Even though I was apprehensive at first on how to deal with those kids, all that changed once I felt their love and affection and they made me feel much more confident before I even started. The enormous satisfaction of teaching these 'invisible kids' (invisible because we choose to ignore them) in a scenario where Dance is perceived as a high-priced luxury or glamour, is what excited me.
I can unfalteringly say that apart from learning a new art form, practicing Kuchipudi increased their positive emotions and optimism, decreased their negative emotions and physical symptoms, and made them feel more connected and satisfied with life in general.
With a bowed head, my gratitude to all ones out there who supported my initiative, and the ones who shared that this inspired them to start their works as well.
Let "Changing Lives Through a Little for a Lot" be "our" mission.

Tuesday 29 March 2016

Finally...Into the journey...

Dance has been, not a hobby or a pastime, or even a career, but just the reason to be, a way to touch eternity. It's been a six months or so that I have decided that I am going to live on dance. Having started dancing from the young age of 3, I was groomed by the dance competitions and youth festivals which gave me all confidence and encouragement. My journey with dance started since then. And later the course of my life changed when I decided to join for post graduation in Performing Arts, at the University Of Hyderabad. My Amma exhorted me to take up the course( a post graduation in dance) if and only if I get through the arduous entrance test and the interview, but with a promise of taking up another course- preferably a post graduation in Chemistry(me being a graduate in Chem)after sparing 2 years of my life for something I always craved for. Getting confused was a very usual thing for me. 
However, I now realize nothing can stop me from dancing. I still don't know what it is that makes me want to keep up the dancing. All thanks to that person in my life, who taught me to move beyond the comfort zone, to try, to embrace uncertainties, to get over the fear factor- the fear of failure. You made me close to my passion, and it's because of you alone that my course of life has been changed the right way !
And now, am journeying with something that I love the most. I consider this space to scribble everything that splash through my mind- my adventures, my dreams, my happiness and lot more.