Recalling the very first day I went to dance class, I leap 16 years backwards. A 7-year old then, a bit timorous, at the same time gurgling with anticipation, little did I realize that I was embarking on the longest journey of my life. A journey, full of excitement and erudition.

While other children of my age spent their weekends feeding on cartoons, my sister and I went to dance class. There have been times I had pleaded with my mother to allow me to forego dance class, for then, watching television seemed much more interesting ! Today however, the picture is very different; for my mother could not have given me a more priceless gift than 'dance class' and 'Rajee Aunty'.

Learning from Rajee Aunty has been a holistic experience; for besides dancing, Aunty attaches great value to discipline, meticulousness, punctuality and most important, reverence for traditions and elders. I am thankful to Aunty for giving me the opportunity to perform for esteemed institutions like Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, Shanmukhananda Fine Arts & Sangeetha Sabha, Nehru Center, temples like Ahobila Mutt and Ayyappa Mandiram.

However, the most memorable experience for me was Rajee Aunty's Silver Jubilee at Nehru Center. All of 8 years, I still remember the exultant faces of my parents, sitting in the audience and I, all eager to show off my dancing prowess ! At age 13, alongwith my sister, Anju, I performed my Arangetram, one of the greatest events in my life.

A savant in music, Rajee Aunty is also a great music teacher, for the kind of patience she has shown while dealing with me is amazing ! Being her music student gave me the opportunity to sing for the prestigious Shanmukhananda.

Gradually over the years, dancing and dance class has become a part of my life. It has become my second home and family. Going to dance class means going to sing, dance teach and many more things. In dance class, I have experienced the pleasures of friendships, cooperation and the value of sharing. The saturnine and volatile days of my life found succour and serenity in the dance class. What I admire the most about Aunty is that she is an astute judge of character. She is thoroughly acquainted with the strengths and weaknesses of her students, and deals with them accordingly.

From a child of 7 to an adolescent of 13, and now a young girl of 23, Aunty has seen my ups and downs. My life has undergone significant transformations, but dance has always been there and will be there for many years to come... providing the much-needed constancy, making my life so much more beautiful and dynamic.

Rajee Aunty's pristine compositions, urbane grace, high level of forbearance, sedulous attention to minutia make her an embodiment of perfection. Her sanguine demeanor and exuberance will always be my source of inspiration and for all her students. Hoping to pursue a career in writing, Aunty will always be my unfailing muse.

Manju Chandran
manjusubhashchandran@gmail.com