A note from the Guru

Harsha Vardhini Ayalasomayajula

As humans, we’re born with an innate curiosity for stories. Here’s mine.

FINDING MY RHYTHM
Many kids are musical, but some are more musical than others. I’d like to think I always had a good sense of rhythm, growing up as a child. All kids have a natural tendency to dance, however, my parents felt I had a much more keener sense of rhythm. Although there weren’t many examples in my own family to look up to as far as excellence in music or dance was concerned, they were convinced it might be a good idea to put me through formal dance training.

THE VAGARIES OF CHILDHOOD
We only like to think of adults being affected by the vicissitudes of life. However, I feel children have the great responsibility of shaping their future on their tiny shoulders. These and more are the great vagaries that affect them and continue to shape them as an adult. My parents dutifully enrolled me in Bharatanatyam classes, but as a child I considered the dance form lacklustre. I mostly acquiesced going to class and it was all a big drag. If someone would have told me at this point that I’d not only like Bharatanatyam, but also take on teaching it, my little girl face would have displayed serious surprise.

Encouragement was hard to come by as well. Teachers at school would scoff at my attempts to do well in a classical form of dance. They were convinced I was not up to taking up long-term commitments, such as mastering a sophisticated classical dance form.

A SMALL CHANGE WITH A BIG OUTCOME
I’m glad that though I had given up, my parents did not. They continued their search for another teacher and this time they landed on Dr. Kalarani Ramachandran. She had and continues to have an outsized influence on my relationship with classical dance. It took someone like her to inspire me to take on Bharatanatyam as seriously as I did. Her approach and grace successfully imbibed a deep respect and fascination for the classical dance form that is Bharatanatyam.

Slowly, but surely I realized the hidden treasures in this dance form I started practicing hard. The technicalities of Bharatanatyam as a classical dance form fascinated me and I felt that I was able to connect my inner rhythm to it, becoming one with it. No other dance form could have given me this feeling.

Forging ahead, in two and a half years, at the age of 14, I completed my arangetram. It was a huge personal milestone that gave me confidence in dance and in life in general, a shot in the arm. It changed me as a person, all for the good. It made me feel like a pro. I felt I knew myself better.

GROWTH AND OTHER EXPERIENCES
Although Bharatanatyam was and is close to my heart, it is not the only dance form I was involved with, growing up. I would volunteer at every competitive opportunity that came my way at school and at college and I would be the de-facto dance choreographer for group competitions, of which I should add, we effortlessly won many. Choreography taught me leadership traits. It taught me teaching.

I am convinced that my success in competitions in other popular dance forms was due to the strong underpinning that Bharatanatyam provided me. A foundation which brought in the rare grace it affords, which few other forms can.

My continuing interest in dance led me to learn other dance forms from around the world. Some of the dance forms I learned are Persian, Uzbek, Kazakh, among others.

I am especially thankful to Mr. M.S Iyengar of Jeevana School, Madurai, who always encouraged extra-curricular activities more than in any other school I’ve heard of. Teachers telling you directly and indirectly that activities other than learning your set subjects are important has a wonderful effect on the student psyche. Unfortunately, in a hypercompetitive world, this has become a rarity.

Building on the constant encouragement I received in school allowed my dance to flourish in college, as I pursued Architecture. The competitive winning streak continued, only more effortlessly.

Since 2004, I continue to spread the joy via my classical dance school, Nritya Kshetra - The Temple of Dance.

More than the satisfaction of having received numerous prestigious awards, I feel that my more satisfying achievement is introducing my students from different parts of the world and who are from varied backgrounds and professions, this beautiful, classical dance form that is Bharatanatyam. For many of whom, it turns out to be a life-changing experience.

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