Kuchipudi is one of 10 traditional classical dance forms in India. Though it is widely taught only in India, there are some schools that teach Kuchipudi in America, including the Natyanjali Kuchipudi Dance School in Dallas. One of the students that take dance there is freshman Ananya Gardas. 

“I started dancing when I was five years old. Whenever a song came on, I always used to dance no matter what,” Gardas siad. “Dancing made me happy and my parents saw that, and so I took both Bollywood and classical dance. As the years went by, I grew closer to classical dance because of the intricate movements and expressions.”

Her passion for Kuchipudi is evident according to dance teacher Srilatha Suri.

“Ananya is very talented and she keeps improving over the years,” Suri said. “She has been helping younger kids in this dance school and I am very grateful for that.”

Helping younger dancers doesn’t mean Ananya doesn’t have some struggles of her own.

“I would say the hardest thing about dancing is memorizing all the dances,” Ananya said. “The classical dance I do, which is kuchipudi, is composed of two difficulties, jathis which is composed of multiple steps and items composed of multiple jathis.”

Practicing multiple times a week has helped Ananya in different ways. 

“Dancing has really benefited Ananya,” father Srinivas Gardas said. “That is one thing that she started doing since she was a kid and we can see that she really enjoys that, and it’s also a physical exercise as well that keeps your body fit.”

Ananya’s dance teacher thinks most students who dance in her class are gifted and can do the footwork, handwork, and expressions quite easily without having to practice much.

“I remember when Ananya first joined my class she was not doing well compared to the other kids because some of them can do the moves without much practice,” Suri said. “Ananya never let that fact underestimate herself. She worked hard and came in for extra practice and little by little she improved herself, now she is one of the best students in the class.”

But by no means does Ananya think she is a finished product. 

“My favorite thing about dancing would have have to be learning new dances and getting to perform them on stage because when I perform,” Ananya said. “I have to practice so much that I have the dance drilled into my brain and that that way I ever forget.”