Last week was the best and worst I have experienced since I became a Dance Guru. Yes Guru, I am totally Guru Priya Narayan now. It was interestingly strange, delightful to hear, and foreign to say. I feel like I've been through an emotional roller coaster. It amazes me how a project like this can create the best and worst in people. This was by the far the most emotional and professional stress I have ever felt. While I think I handled myself well, I'm sure there were many blunders along the way. But most importantly, this was an amazing experience as a dancer, to teach and train someone at this level. I cannot express how incredibly proud of this girl I am. We really stretched ourselves, together, as dancers. Our journey together was more than just dance teacher and student, Guru and Shishya, we became friends and con,fidants.
Tears are part of every intense training. I had many tears during my own training and many times after as a performer. It comes with the territory, tears have to be apart of the process. This girl has brought tears to my eyes so many times. All tears of joy. She danced beautifully, adopted the art the way I wanted to, made me proud, (and made me look good.) These pictures are from the day. She performed a piece, "Ram Tame Sitaji Na Tole". I was completely unfamiliar with this song. But because of this Arangetram process, we learnt it together. And each time she danced to this song, she would bring tears to my eyes. Her expression was so spot on and lovely. She was truly a joy to watch.
There is no training like Arangetram training. The blood, sweat, tears, and muscle aches that go into this day, are like no other experience a performer will have. When else do we working on 10 pieces simultaneously? This training takes a student into a dancer. She has adopted the art at a level that her peers won't have until they go through this same training. I love this picture above. It is from the Balamurali Krishna Javali, "Marulu Minchera". To teach an American high schooler to be feminine, inviting, demure, and enticing all at the same time, is no easy feat. To accomplish that as a dancer of 20 years is also no easy task. The picture above captures all of that so wonderfully.
My darling student, you have made me so proud. Don't ever stop dancing. You have worked to hard to get to this level. This is just the beginning. From, and my gurus who have brought me to where I am today, I wish you the best success and our blessings for continued beautiful dance and making your talent even better.