Dance from within

I witnessed an amazing Kathak performance by the Chitresh Das Dance Company & Chhandam School of Kathak. I have my friend Gauri (also a brilliant Kathak performer) to thank for making me a small part of the wonderful journey. The performances were beautifully choreographed and students of all ages and levels of expertise showcased their talent. The beats were uplifting and the dance was invigorating.

Apart from the grace and talent , there was something else that captured my attention. The dedication and love that the whole class of students shared for Kathak.  Some of the artists had dedicated their entire life to the art form.

Something else struck a chord too..

There was a valedictorian who very eloquently described the motivation behind her pursuit.  She described an experience where she had to meet with strangers and interview them  about what made them happy. She pointed out how difficult it was to connect with strangers and most importantly how our own inhibitions and lack of confidence play such a crucial role in making this task arduous. 

She spoke about how these thoughts of diffidence and irrelevance seldom surface, when we immerse ourselves in an activity we love and believe in. For her, that love was Kathak.

I was awestruck not just by the content of the speech, but by her ability to grasp this and articulate it so perfectly.

I guess the pursuit of happiness, is the search for the one thing that makes you forget yourself, shed your inhibitions and dance from within.