High on Dance

“Dance is life. Everything else is just details. Life without dance? What’s the pointe?”

• I loved to dance as a kid but was not lucky for any formal training. I recall growing up admiring the reality dance show — Boogie Woogie with Javed, Naved, and Ravi as judges in the '90s. During the commercial break, I attempted to the favorite steps performed by artists so that I can show it off to my friends before the school assembly the next day. Good old days!
• As I moved to college, the love for dance did not die. Yet, I used to host college fests so I could not perform due to the clash of practice events. I was a difficult decision yet I had no choice since hosting gave me a long time to face the audience on the stage when compared to than just a 5 mins performance.
• I made sure when I started working I would enroll in formal training in dance. I had to face disappointment for 2–3 years since I had to plan my finances better and had to pay back for my Educational loan. I still kept my senses wide awake for the dance knowledge, knowing the newer styles, watching a lot of videos on Youtube, following the dance shows both in India and abroad. I don’t just follow dreams, I hunt them down.
• After the loan, I was a free bird and enrolled in a dance school during the weekends as a hobbyist. I was the happiest during the classes. I could pick up pretty quick since I started with Bollywood and Hip-hop. I used to be so excited that I was rendered sleepless on Friday nights. It was a dream come true for me. It was a BIG DEAL since I had been waiting for these moments since ages! I realized that the best investment is investing in yourself. I swear by it till date. I don’t just follow dreams, I hunt them down.
• After three years of dancing only on the weekends, performing with the group on stage two quarters and rest live performances in orphanages, I felt that hunger for intensive training. I was never satisfied with my performances since I had the potential to become better. With this thought, I was hunting for a good dance school and considered myself a fresher at the art. I knew people in professional training will be 100 times better than me, yet I promised myself that I would not be intimidated by the rest of the class. We don't grow when things are easy, we grow then things get difficult. It was pretty much a do or die for me. One day or Day one I had to come to a conclusion.
• In the course of intensive professional training, waking up every day at 5:00 AM, no matter what time you leave from work was difficult. I am stronger than my excuses was my morning mantras when the mind and the body had an argument. Striking the balance between work and dance did not come easy for the body. Yet, my passion for dance made me wake up 15 mins before the alarm rings! Once awake, it feels blessed to do what I love to do what you love. Like they say — Work on yourself before you work for somebody else.

With my mentor — Mihir Grover

• It was definitely not easy for me to catch up with the routines. I used to maintain dance notes as well. I had to work on my confidence levels before anything else. When you have a steadfast belief in your ability and confidence that you will be able to handle any choreography, your fear will melt away. Tough times breed tough people. Even as I write this, it seems dumb, but for me, belief has been a level that has catapulted me into a life that I love. I do believe that you are far more capable than you think. Some of my friends motivated me when I felt low — Believe in your inner Beyonce, Prats. You always wanted to do it. Focus.
• You know that the class was good when your ponytail doesn’t survive! No question is a stupid question. I always questioned the mentors while training. Maybe the same question again and again until it made sense to me. At times, the mind gets it, but it takes a while for the body to get accustomed to it. It takes way more attempts to sync in with the music until it becomes muscle memory. I am pretty much in the state of trance during the class. Even once I step out, walking I still memorize the steps and think of the science involved in shifting weights so that I can connect the moves in the routine. It's the willingness to get it right and not the skill. I promised myself that no matter how hard it gets you will not give up on my dreams.
• Once you see the results, it becomes an addiction. I am confident that I am on the right path towards achieving my goal. When you are under the influence of the mentors in the same field to guide you, you will always be ready to put in those extra efforts required. I will be the girl who turned her dreams into reality. Be fearless in the pursuit of what sets your soul on fire. There’s no rest for the determined. Be stubborn about your goals, flexible over the methods. Do more of what you love.