Tanisha Madhukar - Blog #4 - Sunday Morning Reset
Every Sunday I wake up bright and early, and spend three hours of my morning at the dance studio near my house.
I get up, change into my kurta, and yell at my dad to rush out the door so we won’t be late. Once I arrive my first class starts where I spend an hour listening to the aunties talk about their week. Every high and low moment seems to pour out during that one hour. Then the second hour hits, and the next class starts. As we scramble to remember the theka of Dhamar taal, in the midst of panic, we giggle at our silly mistakes. By the third hour I'm wiped out. After doing the warm-up twice, messing up singing every bol, and my feet black from the pigment of the dance floor; I’m checked out. As a saving grace my teacher says, “Ok now write this bol down.” I trudge over to my dance bag, pull out my notebook, and plop down on the hard floor and as we jot down the dance syllables.
My dance class has turned into a weekly ritual which I use to unwind and express myself. I have been dancing for the majority of my life and I’ve found that doing so has improved my connection not only with others but myself as well. To clarify, I perform the Indian classical dance, Kathak, which incorporates spins and fast footwork to tell ancient stories about kings, queens, and gods. I’ve grown to love the feeling of spinning till I turn dizzy and stepping until my feet fall off; all for the feeling of accomplishment that I achieved physically. Additionally, being able to dance has made me more connected to my culture as it has allowed me to learn more about India’s religious history.
After coming to America, many of the religious traditions my parents used to perform were lost amongst American culture. However, through dance I was able to recover much of this history. Not only am I more educated about my heritage, I have grown closer with my mother who has been religious for most of her life. Although she and I don’t have the same views, through dance I have come to understand her thought process and beliefs, and have grown an appreciation for all the things she does regarding religious ceremonies.
Having a morning routine, especially on the weekend after a long school week, is comforting and really sets you up for the next week. It's really cool that you have a constant morning routine that helps you unwind. I think that taking part in an activity like dance would really help with getting your mind off things, especially during a very chaotic junior year. You mention that a lot of the religious traditions that your parents used to perform got lost among American culture, and I can see the same with my parents. There are practices or traditions that they would usually go through in their respective towns during religious holidays, and due to them being busy with work or other reasons, all that is left is memories in the form of stories that they tell to my sister and I. Those traditions required a community, and now that they don't have the same type of community or family in America, the traditions die away. I think that it's amazing that you recovered a part of that history, and that it helped strengthen your relationship with your mother. Culture and history are powerful, and having dance as a way of channeling is something that is very valuable, and not something that everyone has.
ReplyDeleteHi, Tanisha. Though I’m Indian too and used to do Bollywood dance (and the studio was literally shared with a Kathak studio), I never knew this much about Kathak. I find it interesting that I’m constantly learning something new about my culture. It’s fascinating how you have to write down dance syllables. I feel that’s something I would easily become frustrated with. Also, just the fact that you stuck with Kathak for so long is admirable. Like I mentioned, I did Bollywood for a couple years on a very beginner level and spent an ungodly amount of time practicing the dances. I can imagine your dedication and perseverance if you have done a much harder dance style for much longer. I wonder: does your ability to write down music/dance melodies make you have a deep appreciation or understanding of music in general? I noticed your last blog was about music and performing, so I’m guessing you really cherish both in your life? I too love music (though honestly, I feel like everyone does lol). Another question: Is your love for music because of your background in Kathak or vice versa? On another note, I can also understand your religious differences between your mom. I’ve always been interested in how many of my friends with either very religious or completely agnostic families ended up the opposite of their family. I found that weird because logically I would think that a child would follow the general path of their family, but I guess not. Though I haven’t grown up in a super religious household, some of my family friends have and I can see how that could add some pressure.
ReplyDeleteHi Tanisha! Reading your blog makes me resonate so much with it, because my mom and I sometimes also have religious differences. Growing up, I never really celebrated Indian holidays or went to poojas or even the temple, but doing dance and learning more about my culture has helped me form a special bond with her. The way you used imagery in the first paragraph added so much to your blog; I felt like I was there with you when you were rushing your dad. Would you pick up any other style dance if you got the chance to?
ReplyDelete