"And what is the best that you liked about Summer Camp 2007?" she asked the participating group of 70 and they all answered in chorus, "DANCING!"
My happiness knew no bounds. I felt absolutely ecstatic. I could feel the wind in my body flow out through the goose bumps. A tear rolled down my cheek, I was smiling... wide open. (like they say, from ear to ear!) My mind was altering from being pleasantly surprised to being happily satisfied to being crazily ecstatic. All I wanted to do was jump around screaming, "Yipppeeeeeeeeeee....... Mommy, Daddy, Rohit, I did it! Aunty, today you're going to be proud of me!"
And why this great of a feeling... Its because this is the same annual summer camp organized by Shri Lakshmi Narayan Mandir, Riverside, California, USA, where the chairperson warned me or should I say, subtly cautioned me, on my volunteering to teach dance, that the children there have not liked dance, ever since it started 6 years ago. With a small element of nervousness and a big portion of confidence and Ganesh's (my better half) support, I had to take it up and prove that girls from Nritya Geethanjali are groomed for such situations.
I had volunteered to teach a big group of 70 children, the South Indian folk dances of Kummi & Kolattam. I had to train 3 groups of 20-30 boys and girls, with ages varying from 4 to 14, for 4 days and make them perform on the 5th day. The children learnt to dance to "Kolattam adipom ..." and I must confess teaching them was a lovely experience. Some were excited, some were not, some called it dandiya and I explained the difference of their originating cultures. Some grasped the steps quickly, while some just wouldn't move a leg. Some would only go tapping the sticks, while some just wouldn't get the rhythm right. The lessons I've learnt at NG helped me get through the challenge of keeping the quick learners enthused, while bringing up the slower ones to speed. They were 4 days of fun through learning and sharing.
As I gather my thoughts of this wonderful experience, I realize that I could have perhaps not done it but for NG and for Aunty's fine tuning. She makes us not just learn a dance, she makes us understand it... understanding the lyrics, the story behind it, the anga-shuddham of postures. She teaches us to be the character itself and enact it, she teaches us patiently the writing and composing aspects of the song and dance. She teaches us to choreograph, she gives us the freedom to explore. When I was addressing the children, I did not fumble to talk or even need a microphone during the class hours and the impromptu speeches... thanks to Aunty's and Shyam mama's training, to compere for programmes. As I sit back remembering my younger days, especially my juvenile days in class, I remember to sometimes not get so pleased, when Aunty would tell me to teach my juniors in class. Today I understand, there was a hidden agenda behind her doing it. It was so easy for me to handle the crowd, be it 20 or 40 or 70. And I am sure I can handle a bigger crowd in the future, because I am trained to do this at NG.
Aunty, I feel so fortunate today to be your student. I am so proud to be a part of NG.
The parents and children at the summer camp liked me so much, that I am starting a class for Bharatanatyam and Folk Dances from Monday, 2nd July and Aunty... the timing is the same, 5:30 pm, only the venue is different! And I am going to touch your feet, when I touch the feet of Lord Nataraja. Please accept my salutations!
Your loving shishya,
- Ragini
