The dance is a poem of which each movement is a word. ~Mata Hari

" And Five, and Six
 And Five , six seven eight.!
And start once More.! I want it to be perfect.!  I want to see more energy!"

These are typically the words , that echoed throughout the dance practices during  the speech day preparations. I, along with my other friends, would be performing classical fusion on Kathak and Bharatnatyam. There were other styles like hip-hop , rock - n - roll, and disco as well.  And, I was really excited, because, not only was this my first and last performance in school..... but also my very first choreography , in Kathak..
                         Never before had I thought..... that I would ever be able to choreograph a complete song..... and this time..... I actually surprised myself.  Earlier....the idea never struck me, as I had no inclination whatsoever to try out classical.... But later, when I saw that the other styles had more than enough people to participate........ I thought... " Why not classical?
 Let's Do It".
                        Did you know, there are short-cuts to happiness......... and dancing is one of them. Those days..... of setting the songs........ relentless practices.....loads of fun... missing AND bunking classes...... were one of the most memorable days of my college life. I still do remember the day, when I was walking back to class with Ishana, and I remember telling her, that with basketball matches  now over... I had nothing else to look forward to in college...... and her reply was..... simply... " Aare, U wait na, there's still speech day coming up". That was it. And it was the beginning of another interesting phase in my life...... 
                        I not only owe all the fun and dancing .... to this speech day... But I owe something far more important to this day of my life..... which I can never forget... and for which I shall be always grateful. I learnt Kathak for 5 years....... but then, due to some reasons.... I left it. Let me be a bit truthful...........I left it, because I did not give it due importance of my life... and I realized this mistake... long after I had done it. But, this speech day dance, gave me the chance of making up with my Tai..... I invited my Tai - my Guru.....to come and see this dance. Very few actually know, that the very reason of me dancing the way I did that day... was because it was all for her.... a complete dedication to her...... My every movement.... my every step... my every turn..... my every look..was dedicated to her. I was dancing before her.... after like three years..... and I wanted to do my best.
             So , on the final day, when we were all dressed up and ready..... a bit jittery and nervous.... in the wings..... I was not nervous because there were so many people out there watching me.... but I was nervous.... whether I would be able to give a good performance.... and whether Tai would like it...... Afterall, it was a dedication to her... and it just HAD to be PERFECT.... My only concern was, that I had to manage the 8 rotation peice, and it had to be on the beats. I had hardly managed it in the reharsals...... but I was hoping I get it right..... and I did....... and then, throughout the  whole dance I was smiling like a idiot.... :P
But........ the most important thing that I learnt that day was ...... that " Dancing with the feet is one thing, but dancing with the heart is another..." And that day..... I danced with my heart....