so an arangetram?

So your teacher announced the big news. For me, I was in my Sunday group class when abruptly Divya Aunty pointed at me and said it, "mommy, she's ready". I was ecstatic. As a dancer, I had been working towards that moment for my entire life. Arangetram is a big deal for a Bharatanatyam dancer. It is the culmination of a dancer's young career and the stepping stone into maturity. But an Arangetram is not just a word to write on an evergrowing resume or yet another achievement to talk about, it is a commitment to dance, a beautiful culmination of practice and commitment.  I had a general idea of what I was getting into- a year long commitment of constant practice and dedication. Yet, I had completely underestimated the breadth of the difficulties that the Arangetram process would present. It was not just a physical challenge, it was a mental and spiritual challenge that truly tested my strength as a dancer and as a human.  The arangetram should not be taken lightly, a dancer has to truly love dance for the Arangetram to truly shine. The arangetram process is not just dance. It is the costumes, the sets, the music, and everything between.  So an arangetram? It is everything and more than you expect, but for me it was the most brilliant year of my life, filled with the most brilliant challenges, lights, and ups and downs.