The smell of hot glue fills the air as long peacock feathers from a vase are intricately placed onto a delicate plastic crown. The vase empties as beads are added to the feathers for finishing touches. The crown is delicately placed on Kira Nathan’s head by her older sister as she prepares for the dance performance at the Association of Kerala Medical Graduates.
“My sister and I would fight a lot, but when we were dancing, there was no fighting,” Kira, now a ninth grader, said. “We were two dancers then.”
This style of dance, known as Bharatanatyam, promotes self-expression while creating a strong familial and cultural connection.
Bharatanatyam tells stories of Hindu mythology and daily life. When Harini Nilakantan, Bharatanatyam dancer of 22 years who also teaches, played Young Sita from the Ramayana, she wasn’t just playing a role, she was deepening her understanding of Indian culture.
“I understood more about that time period’s views on what a woman would do and the strengths women in her place had in society,” Ms. Harini said. “Interestingly, they weren’t oppressed or treated as second-class citizens.”
She explained that many of these pieces have a strong history, often from Indian poets.
“You could say the Maya Angelou figures of Indian music,” she said. “Their pieces reflect what was going on in that time. For example, Varavara’s pieces are really patriotic in nature because that was during the colonial era.”
For Kira, learning about these stories not only teaches her about Indian history, it also gives her a way to connect with her grandmother.
“If she understands what I’m trying to portray then once I’m done performing she’ll sit me down and tell the story,” Kira said.
Bharatanatyam significantly runs through Kira’s family.
“There were some big pictures on the wall in my grandparents’ house of two of my aunts, in full costume and makeup,” she said. “When I was little, I didn’t know who they were. I would just look at them and be like ‘Wow, I want to look like that.’”
Seeing this colorful makeup and costume inspired Kira to not only begin Bharatanatyam, but to find herself.
Ms. Harini explained that for Bharatanatyam, knowing yourself is really important as it teaches the dancer more about their own dance style and practice.
“Everything about this dance is hinged on self-expression, especially since you have to use your face and your own body to tell a story,” she said.
Kira agreed, even saying dance is like another language to her, teaching her so much about herself through the values she holds in her daily life.
“Dance has helped me express myself in public speaking because I’m not super shy to get up on a stage in front of a bunch of people and just perform,” Kira said. “For example, recently I had to give a speech for my history class and I was able to get up there and talk to my class and we ended up winning the debate. It’s helped me communicate effectively because if I’m not speaking, then I’m making motions that help to convey my message.”
Kira has taken what she’s learned from dance into everyday life. From giving history speeches to long conversations about culture, despite not always wearing a crown of peacock feathers, Kira forever carries the impact of Bharatanatyam in her heart.
