“I was just 4 years old when I took up dancing. I probably didn’t know what Kuchipudi even meant when I first attended my dance class. I was forced by my mother to take up dancing. The first few years, I thought it was not meant for me. Well, who knew that dance would one day become a part of me. I fell in love with the art and there has been no looking back. For the last 8 years, I have been practising Kuchipudi, both as a teacher and a learner. The gradual change in my attitude towards the art form was because of legendary late Padma Shri Dr. Sobha Naidu Garu. She made this reluctant dancer, a passionate one. It has been a whirlwind of experience to perform all over the country for 8 years now.

I’ve danced every single day for as long as I can remember. I still remember my first performance. We were all decked up with heavy ornaments and head accessories. Unfortunately, my hair accessory fell during the performance. More than feeling embarrassed, I was feeling panicky about the consequences. Despite the predicament, I kept dancing unfazed. I continue to do the same even today. No matter what happens on the stage, my mantra is to keep dancing with all my heart.

In December 2011, I had decided to join my guru Dr.Sobha Naidu Garu’s Kuchipudi classes. She’s the lady I have always worshiped. I have always been in awe of her graceful expressions. Well, she is called the queen of expressions for a reason. Phew! I was incredibly intimidated and nervous on my first day of class. It was like a dream come true, when I got the opportunity to perform solo within a month under her guidance.

Kuchipudi has helped me stay true to my roots and culture. It has helped me lead a disciplined life. When I was being given the opportunity to teach in the same academy, I had to pinch myself to believe my eyes. I was barely 16 and I was one of the youngest teachers in the academy. I have been teaching for four years now.

I think I work best under pressure for I balanced both my college and dance school seamlessly without giving up on my family or me time.

Besides dancing, I have a lot of other passions. I widened my horizons by learning Carnatic vocals and German language. My father joined law in 2018 as a full-time tax consultant. Looking at him unabashedly chasing his dreams at this age, I was quite inspired. Post my graduation in literature, I had decided to pursue law in Hyderabad.”

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