There are very few things in the world that have the ability to control you, but not in the toxic, painful way, but in a way that consumes your soul, that leaves you feeling everything, every kind of happiness. Dance doubtlessly happens to be one of those. It's like nirvana, and it takes you to places in your heart, allowing you to feel so many emotions all at once while your temples will be studded with beads of sweat. Dance is magic; wherein the flow of the movement, delicate hand gestures, the beauty of the movement of eyes, the curl of your fingers during a particular pose, all of it will make you feel like you're dancing on air, or the twists and the turns, the tatkaar by feet in kathak, the swiftness of the movements, that will leave you breathless, but in a way that will also make you feel like you just want to keep continuing. Kathak isn't always easy. But once you're learning, once you start learning the steps and everything that comes with it, it becomes a part of you. There’s a particular atmosphere in any dance class. There are small, innocent little learners, there are ones who’ve learnt a lot, have been in the class for a long time. And then there’s a guru. Someone who guides you not only through the journey of dance, but through the journey of life, explaining to you intricate details of the emotions we go through, and then tells us exactly how to channel them in an art form like dance. A dance guru will show you not only how it’s done, but also how you can own it, how you can make dance yours. The relationship of a guru-shishya goes deeper than words, it’s the most sincere one there is, and it’s a bond unbreakable in itself. You learn to respect, admire and accept so many things when you’re learning under a guru. It’s like being taught how to walk, except here, you’re taught how to dance, how to breathe freely. The ghungrus on the feet, the melancholy of their sound, it becomes the best kind of music. Learning and dancing kathak, is like exploring all these different parts of you, giving all of you to the power that it holds. Dance is beauty, grace, purity. Once you're in it, you'll be in it forever. At Madhurita Sarang School of Kathak, dance is the only definition, dance is the soul. Archana Sunjay, the guru, the teacher, walks you through the graceful art, that is Kathak. Kathak essentially has three gharanas, and here you’re taught Jaipur gharana, with a little bit of Lucknow sprinkled in it. The styles are elegant, strong, delicate, but also energy, and that makes the Kathak taught here surreal and impactful. Archana tai has been teaching personally for 25 years, and in the institute for 11 huge years. The environment in class is inspiring, and everyone is devoted to dance, practicing hard and working on every piece like it’s their own.
