I have been learning Bharatnatyam for almost 10 years, but because of grade 10 exams and COVID-19, I had to pause my classes for a period of time. However, when I thought that I could add this as a CAS experience, I resumed my dance lessons. Currently, I am in the last year of my bachelor’s in arts for Bharatnatyam, which is called Visharad. My goal is to achieve good grades in the exam that I will take place in October 2022.

I have to practice rigorously for Visharad as it includes 7 dances and 6 years’ worth of theoretical knowledge, which includes the history of other classical and folk dances of India, well-known artists and performers of different dance styles, myths & legends connected to the dance form, and much more.

LO 1 Identify own strengths and develop areas for growth: My Bharatnatyam teacher told me that I am doing well when it comes to dancing, but my face has been completely blank while I’m performing. Because Abhinaya is a significant part of this classical dance, I need to work on it, for which I will be doing acting exercises and observing my classmates and my teacher while they are performing.

LO 2 Demonstrate that challenges have been undertaken, developing new skills in the process: Recently, I was given feedback by my teacher that I was not dancing fiercely, and somewhere she felt that I was appearing to be nervous, which was the total opposite of what is expected to be a Bharatnatyam dancer’s attitude, and because of that, I planned to practice the dances at home so that I remembered what I was doing and probably then I would look more confident.

LO 4 Show commitment to and perseverance in CAS experiences: It is really exhausting as I also have other extra-curricular activities and classes to attend, but I have to show my commitment towards my experience so that I can achieve good grades and for that, I have to go 6 days a week so I can perfect my posture, expressions, and overall dance.