Dance

I started learning Indian classical dance form, Bharatanatyam, when I was 6. Bharatanatyam requires intricate footwork. I remember striking my feet to the beats of my teacher's stick hitting the floor. “I should hear the sound of your feet when you strike it!” she demanded. I struggled to produce a sound louder than her stick.

Another challenge posed by Bharatanatyam is the need to squat and strike one’s feet in a complex rhythm, all at once. With each slap of my feet on the ground, I felt the skin under my feet start to tear exposing the sensitive layer below. “I still cannot hear your feet, Vidisha” she hollered again. My teacher stopped abruptly, leaving everyone stuck in a mid-air pose. I knew what was coming next. “Vidisha, you need practice,” she declared.

“But I am striking my feet as hard as I can!” I blurted. “21 days… you need 21 days… just push yourself to do exactly what you cannot do. If you can't hear your feet, strike harder” she said “Challenge yourself to do it. Challenges hurt your ego. And ego is a great motivator”. She was right. With perseverance, I was able to advance further to the next level with daily practice. I have since used this experience as a motivation to push myself beyond limits.