Dance in India has always been a means to uplift the human spirit, usually performed during religious ceremonies, rituals, and festive occasions. It is meant, not only for the artist, to reach a higher place, but also for the audience to be taken there. Thus it becomes a means to an end.

As a teacher and performer in our contemporary world in the Western hemisphere, this still resonates deeply for me. Ultimately, if art is not a way to better our selves in some way, it seems to me that it is not being utilized to its fullest potential. Even in the highly technological world that we live in today, the study and performance of the arts is a way in which the human soul can be in a place where it reconnects with a higher spirit. Furthermore, the study of dance requires a particular kind of dedication, requiring the complete engagement of both mind and body discipline in order to master its technical aspects.

My goal in teaching dance to both youngsters as well as adults is to provide an opportunity in which they can discover their strengths deep within themselves. As a student progresses through the curriculum, she/he continually is challenged physically by the increasingly complexity of movement and rhythms and finally into characterization and narration. This process makes the student reach into the depths of their inner strength, perseverance, and dedication in order to fulfill the rigors of reaching technical prowess. Keeping expectations high in order to reach a standard of performance that stands apart is an important aspect of this training.

Ultimately, the pursuit of this art can shape motivated, self-disciplined, and creative individuals, who have a high standard of performance. They are in touch with something higher than themselves and are able to express this through the dance.