Passion and Perseverance

After two years of immense patience and painful recovery, Nandita returned to the U.S. when she was 9 years old. After medical examination, her body brace was to be removed and she was finally free from the restrictions she had to endure. It was a happy day with the doctor asking Nandita what she wanted to do now that the brace was finally removed. The family expected her to say the she would love to play, swim or cycle, all of the things that she so missed doing, but Nandita surprised everyone by saying that she wanted to learn Bharatanatyam – an Indian Classical Dance form. What inspired or motivated Nandita to say this, remains a mystery! How her wish was going to be made possible was another mammoth task. The doctors were not optimistic about this choice of activity, yet permitted her to try also hinting that she might not be able to sustain it for long. Upon her return to India, Nandita was placed under the tutelage of her Guru and Mentor, Smt. Krishnakumari Narendran, who has nurtured and guided Nandita to be the dancer she is today. As is known, Bharatanatyam requires total spinal strength as each step impacts the spine. Although Nandita lacked this, she never let it deter her. To dance with a rod holding the spine in place is no mean achievement. It is undoubtedly her dedication and determination to pursue her passion that has made this feat possible. It was as if the hand of God was upon her when she danced, transforming her into another person. Everyone was amazed by the speed at which she progressed and to this day, her Guru calls and considers her a miracle child.

Her Arangetram (debut on-stage performance of a Bharatanatyam student, after undertaking years of training) in April 2008, changed her life. What was viewed as a culmination of her efforts to showcase her dancing skills, turned out to be the beginning of a journey to be a role model and a shining light to all those who had lost hope in the face of adversity. In April 2011, exactly three years after her Arangetram, Nandita gave her 50th solo performance. She has progressed by leaps and bounds, having attained the distinction of assisting her Guru in conducting Bharatnatyam classes. Despite her very busy schedule, Nandita still makes time to hone her skills in the various aspects of dance, while somehow also managing to retain her identity as the young teenager that she is. At the end of the day, Nandita’s only desire is to take her art to a new level and show that with the right attitude and willpower, no hurdle is too big to cross and that Bharatnatyam is not just an art form, but a healer as well.