From a sense of excitement about something important one’s going to attempt, also rises strains of anxiousness. What if it doesn’t go as it’s planned? The other side of this precarious bridge is where the success lies. Sanjana Jain, 16, who is preparing for her Kuchipudi Rangapravesam (debut) understands it well. She tries, at all times, to stand strong beside her classical dance abilities so that nervousness doesn’t get the better of her. In this process, she hopes her dedication shines through.
It’s a virtue she’s imbibed from her gurus, Dr Raja Radha Reddy and Kaushalya Reddy. As they continue to play an important role in the youngster’s life, she gives them the credit for making her a lot of what she is today. “They know my strengths and weaknesses and what’s best for me, so it’s natural for me to seek their guidance, but they always leave the final decision of choosing performance themes on me,” says Jain, who has chosen to showcase various abhinayas or expressions, which, she says, is her forte.
Dance has been Jain’s life since eight years, but she feels she’s just begun learning. The fact that there is so much more to know drives her to excel in her craft. “I’ve experienced many challenges over time, but the journey has been beautiful so far,” she says.
One of the major challenge the young dancer faced is from herself. Never being easily satisfied with her dance, Jain says it adds to the pressure to perfecting herself more than last time. “There’s always scope for improvement and no matter how tough it gets, I will keep trying,” says the dancer, who is equally passionate about the piano, an instrument she’s been playing since she was five. Art has given her wings and she intends to fly high with them.