From a simple enrollment by my mom to a passion I never expected to cultivate, dance has taken me on an unexpected journey. Kathak, a dance form less common in the South—where Bharatanatyam reigns supreme—caught my interest, primarily because my mom noticed my affinity for fluid movements, a key element of kathak. I still wonder how she figured that out, given the intense choreography my sister and I whipped up in our living room. Perhaps it was all the spinning? (Though, to be fair, kathak’s spins are definitely more graceful.)

 

Despite drifting away from dance during the busy school years, I eventually found my way back. While my skills may be a bit rusty, my love for the art form remains as strong as ever.