Image: From left: Sujata Mohapatra, Leela Samson, participant, India Claybourne, participant.
I loved the sound of Dance India the moment I found out about it. I desperately wanted to take part due to the fact that my future ambition is to be the Director of Kalakshetra. But there was one thing stopping me from going – the course was very expensive because of all the brilliant things that would be there, but I was determined to go. I decided I would raise money so I would be able to attend Dance India.
With my mum’s help, I created some sponsor sheets that I passed around to my friends, teachers, and mum’s colleagues. I did a sponsored silence for four and a half hours. I also did a sponsored swim of 2500m. Also, after the course, I promised to dance in the middle of town so people may donate their change.
Dance India has been the most inspiring event of my life. After six and a half years of dance, I have been able to properly execute one of the main Bharatanatyam poses: araimandi. I almost cried when I realised I could finally do this posture.
A huge thank you to Anjana-ji, my Dance India course teacher, for helping me perfect my movements. I would also like to thank Leela-ji and Priyadarsini-ji for inspiring me with their performances. And most of all, I would like to say a huge thank you to my amazing teacher, Devika-ji Rao for teaching me so brilliantly for the past six and a half years. She has been so incredible and I don’t know what I would do without her. Thank you so much!
Written by India Claybourn (age twelve), Dance India 2013 participant