Dance: The Bridge Between Human and Divine

What began as a pursuit of Good Name in dance evolved into a journey of living with the Divine.

From the age of six, dance has been my companion - a journey of passion and self-expression. I’ve been fortunate to represent my state at National forums and earn recognition across the country. Yet, despite the accolades, there came a time when the applause and good name did not excite me anymore, leaving me into its real beauty.

This transformation began when I ventured into Choreography. Untill then, I was busy portraying my Guru's perpectives and now suddenly I felt like I have the freedom to express what I truly want to. Every choreography became my conversation with My God because every piece was about some God and I felt only He can guide me. Thus my new journey in dance began.

Everday, I sat for hours with My God, discussing various ideas.

Sometimes, I instantly agree to what He says and 

Sometimes, I argue and don’t settle for what He says.

Sometimes, He immediately gives clarity and

Sometimes, He makes me wait (until the very moment I step on stage… keeps me on nerves)

Sometimes, He answers me directly and

Sometimes, He answers through someone. 

Sometimes, He corrects me during my practice and

Sometimes, He corrects me on the stage ( I find that too much to handle, but I forgive His antics)

These conversations were priceless to me.. I realized that it is these conversations I am looking forward to more than the dance itself.. 

My first choreography was for the famous, Chidambaram Dance Festival. This Festival is a dream stage for every dancer, where Lord Shiva is in his eternal dance form. I chose the story of Nandanar (one of the 63 Nayanmars), a devotee whose tale is deeply rooted in the sacred soil of Chidambaram.

My prayer was simple: that at least one person in the audience should connect with Nandanar’s Devotion, his absoulute Surrender and experience Transformation.

For six months, my day started and ended with my Divine, worked for several hours yet felt so fresh at the end of the day. I asked questions, imagined emotions and placed myself alternately in the shoes of Nandanar and the Divine. I felt I earned the remuneration even before I went on stage in the form of valuable time spending with my Divine. 

On the day of the performance, I felt prepared and confident. But what rolled out there was something that I would hold on for my Life.

Dancing in the divine vibrations of Chidambaram, under the gaze of thousands, my practiced choreography gave way to something entirely different. The Live music, the energy from the musicians, raw bhakthi from the audience, vibrations from the centuries old temple and the presence of the Divine created a Magic.

My movements flowed, unplanned yet perfectly attuned to the rhythm. I did a completly different choreography on the stage. My mind fully aware of the music and the beats but my body was fully taken over by the Divine. The next 30 minutes was a surprise for me.

I felt as though I had been granted the privilege to step into Nandanar's journey, experiencing his own devotion, his supreme surrender and his emotions as my own. (For curious seekers who want to know who the greatest Baktha Nandarnar is, you can watch this old tamil classic movie- Nandanar Charithram on YouTube)

When the performance ended, a woman in her sixties ran to me, tears streaming down her face. She fell at this humble feet, saying that she had some Divine experience. Me, still coming out of my elevated states and my mind busy questioning what just happened on the stage, my husband quickly reminded me of the Prayer I held in the beginning of my choreography.

I realized what just happened. This humble soul's humble prayer was answered. At that moment, I knew that the purpose of my art had shifted - it wasn’t about the applause or personal recognition anymore. It was about creating a bridge for others to connect with the Divine.

Since then, my dance has become a sacred tool, a form of devotion and transformation. With each performance, my prayers have grown bolder. In my next choreography, "Krishna's Echoes," I prayed not for just one person to feel their Divine, but for every single person in the audience to take a step closer to their God. 

My prayers have been evolving over the years with many incidents shaping it and

Now my prayer is:

Use me as Your bridge to reach your Wisdom

Use me as Your voice to reach closed ears

Use me as Your body to reach the unreachable

Use me as Your servant

USE ME!