THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Anagha’s mudras are not perfect. But then, she grapples with a dysfunctional right side and an obese body. However, the 13-year-old is so determined and dances with a smile outshining the sun. Even when she sways and spins with a body ravaged by cerebral palsy, her movements are marked by a rare grit. Megha is not herself around strangers and refuses to dance. Her teacher cajoles her to follow the steps and the shy, Class X student slowly relents.
At Hemamalini’s dance class, they are not silent, isolated special children, but a bunch of happy faces. “They missed some developmental milestones and have special needs, but it doesn’t mean they should be denied all opportunities to indulge in arts,” says the city-based teacher and daughter of renowned scientist R Vasudevan.
Nandana was a normal child and even a class topper till a strange fever left her in ICU for long. She came out of the hospital with no memories and skills, a seven-year-old newborn. “She didn’t recognise us or know how to sit or eat,” says her mother, Preetha. “She used to learn dance before, but we thought she will never be able to continue. After joining the classes, she is very happy as here she can dance without any apprehension and awkwardness.”
Hemamalini has been training differently-abled children for the past four years and has also organised stage programmes for her students. “The happiest moment in my life was seeing my child on stage in Bharatanatyam costume,” says Vijayalakshmi, Megha’s mom. She recognises teaching a special child involves a lot of patience and time. “The children love their teacher. She invests a lot of time in them and at times I am surprised by her patience,” she says.
Hemamalini is also keen on mixing the special children with the normal ones to create a more inclusive environment. “I am proud of my normal students because they never try to outsmart their friends,” says the dance teacher. “They always slow down and wait for others to catch up. While doing a dance drama we make the script in a way to include them all and give them roles fitting their capacity.”
Ganga has graceful movements and expressions, but she can’t dance without prompting. The dyslexic girl finds it difficult to remember her steps and she totally depends on muscle reflex while coordinating her movements.
“Some of the students are epileptic and after each attack their mind goes blank. They won’t be able to remember any steps and we have to start from scratch,” says Hemamalini.
She insists all her students are talented and beams when an autistic Malavika breaks into a beautiful song and Anagha performs a Shivasthuthi. “My daughter has some learning disabilities that make subjects like Maths very difficult. But she sings, paints and even writes stories. When she joined the dance class her entire right side was lifeless. But now she can lift her hands,” says Anagha’s mother Sajitha.
Flanked by her adoring students Hemamalini agrees her job is challenging. “But I love to be with them and enjoy every moment of it. I know I am helping them to gain confidence and it fills me with immense pride and happiness. But this would never have been possible without the support of my family. I am grateful to my husband Prasanna and my children Maduvratha and Nachiketh who have been my pillars of strength,” she says.