As a little girl, I joined Kathak, Indian classical dance, classes because my mom told me to. Every Sunday, I would try to find an excuse to skip class because I used to get bored. The exams were extra work on top of school, and the pieces we learned seemed repetitive and mundane. Little did I know that those repetitive, simple compositions were laying the foundation for something greater. As a child, I worked on the technique so I could showcase the beauty of Kathak dance later on.

The rigorous footwork, the fast-paced circles and the meaning behind each hand gesture or composition all come together to tell a story. Such stories kept me in touch with my Indian culture, and I learned about my religion and ethnic history solely through dance. In addition to learning actual dances, I researched many famous Kathak dancers, the role Kathak played in the Mughal era and the types of characters portrayed through dance.

After completing my final Kathak exam, I never thought I would miss the long hours of memorizing and studying compositions and dance history. I spent 12 years learning and perfecting this art to the best of my ability, and I hope to continue to share what I have learned with those who are younger than me. I want them to know that what they find boring now is something they will truly appreciate in the future.