Bahratanatyam (Again)

     So this is it, folks!  The show is upon us!  When I first started this blog, I was posting about how I had no idea what I was doing and how hard it was.  Fifty-eight posts and three months later, I'm practically an expert!  I love Bharatanatyam; I'm going to miss taking that class twice a week.  My professor, though stubborn and still not completely sound in American social norms, is hilarious and kind.  She returns to India shortly after the new year and will not be returning to the U.S. until next fall.
     The first two weeks of the class were extremely intimidating.  I have learned so much about the culture, language and of course, dance, since that time though.  Every bone in my body hurts from rehearsals this week and I'm nervous about being dressed and ready in time (I was not ready in time to go onstage for dress rehearsal last night), but I'm excited to show all my friends and family what I have learned.  I was showing a few of the other dancers some steps last night and they were all telling me how much harder it is than it looks.  It truly is the hardest dance I have ever tackled and I am so proud of all my classmates and I have achieved.  So much hard work, sweat, blood and tears have gone into this.  We really are part of the Indian culture now.

My bestie Leah in all her red-fingered glory!

Sassy, of course.

"sadā" - always

सरस्वति नमस्तुभ्यं वरदे कामरूपिणि ।
विद्यारम्भं करिष्यामि सिद्धिर्भवतु मे सदा ॥

saraswati namastubhyam varadé kāmarūpiṇi |
vidyārambham kariṣhyāmi, siddhirbhavatu mé sadā ||


O Saraswatī, salutations for you, O Giver of boons, O Giver of form to desire,
I am going to start studying, may success be mine, always.