Dance - a way of life

 

Mita sighed and put the newspaper away in disdain . “ No point in even  reading this advertisement Aai”, she said sadly. “ What’s the point ? I don’t even get time for my regular practice, how will I even attend this summer school by Guru Shashvati Sen”, she said as she started preparing for her day . Mita was a fierce journalist , excellent at her work . Dancing  was not just a hobby for her; it was her soul’s language, a divine art that brought her immense joy and solace. From her school days, she had dedicated herself to the classical dance form of Kathak, studying with unwavering commitment and earning the coveted title of Kathak Visharad with flying colors. Yet, despite her mastery, her dream of completing the prestigious Nritya Alankar in Kathak remained unfulfilled, lingering quietly in her heart and filling her with sadness each time she thought about it. 

As the years went by, life’s responsibilities pulled Mita in different directions. Her demanding job, her role as a nurturing mother, and her duties as a devoted wife often consumed her days, leaving little room for her own passions. She would try to dance once in a while at home . Whenever her mother would visit her , she would lovingly take out her ghungroos, start tying them and with reverence and respect for the art form that she truly adored. She would hardly dance for 10 minutes , when her little daughter would come running to her , making innocent demands of wanting to wear the ghunghroos and dance, and that would be the end of her practice . For her, finding time to pursue her passion was the constraint , despite a lot of support from her family . 

Slowly, she began to feel a sense of being lost—adrift in the hustle, longing for the happiness and fulfillment she once knew through her dance. At times, loneliness crept in, shadowing her moments of quiet reflection, making her feel disconnected from the art she loved so dearly.


One ordinary day, her routine took an unexpected turn. She saw an advertisement—a simple announcement about a dance workshop scheduled for a Sunday afternoon, just three hours long. Tentatively, she pondered whether to go, her heart fluttering with a mix of hesitation and hope. “ Take small steps Mita”, her mother had once told her when she was fretting about being unable to practice and attend her class for the preparation of the exam of NrityaAlankar. “ Aai, I have enrolled myself for a small dance workshop on Sunday “, she said . “ I am taking the baby steps you asked me to . Please would you mind babysitting, “ she asked tentatively . 

That Sunday afternoon, she stepped into the workshop with a renewed sense of excitement. As she danced, she felt an incredible liberation—her mind, heart, and soul aligned in perfect harmony. In those hours, she rediscovered her true self and her love for dance. It was as if she had found her way back home, her spirit ignited once again.


For her, art was more than movement; it was a sacred connection—a beautiful blend of mind, soul, and heart harmoniously united in one moment of pure expression. In that brief dance workshop, she realized that no matter how life’s demands change, her passion would always be her sanctuary, guiding her back to her truest self.

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