A Week before my 'Arangetram'....

by Taruneetha Sujith Kumar

I finally made it, just 7 days away from the big day!

I’m feeling so many emotions right now, but above all, I feel a deep sense of accomplishment. Of course, there's a sadness that comes with leaving the Arangetram track behind, it's been a huge part of my daily life.

I started the journey back in September 2023, when I wasn't particularly close with anyone in class and didn't have much performance experience. But as the year went on, I started to bond with the other girls, especially those on the same Arangetram path, and slowly, everything began to click.

I was given more chances to perform, which helped me grow so much. Around mid-year, I auditioned for the school musical, balancing dance and the musical became my biggest challenge. I was exhausted constantly, going from school to rehearsal until 6 p.m., then heading straight to dance with barely anything to eat and running on empty. Still, I pushed through that phase. I also participated in two dance workshops that really tested me, not just my physical abilities, but my mental resilience too. I came out of them feeling more confident and realized I was truly evolving as a dancer. One of my most memorable moments was finishing my first item, Jatiswaram. I remember the joy and pride I felt, thinking it was so challenging… little did I know what more was coming!

Then summer came, and I planned to dive into dance even deeper. But life had other plans, my mom had to undergo a procedure. That turned everything upside down. Suddenly, I had to step up, take on more responsibilities, and adjust to a new way of living while supporting her.

Eventually, I found a rhythm and began to take the track more seriously than ever. I practiced harder, performed more, and saw myself growing, not just as a dancer, but as a person.

Then came the photoshoot. I didn’t expect it to be that exhausting, it took the entire day! But honestly, I loved it. Being in front of the camera made me feel like a model, and the pictures made it all feel so real!

And just when everything seemed to be going smoothly, I injured my shoulder! I still don’t fully understand what the doctor said, but I couldn’t move it for a while. It was scary, and frustrating, but I didn’t let it stop me. Even with some slowdowns, I kept dancing. That experience taught me that if you work hard enough, you can push through.

My incredible Orchestra team

Around that same time, we began orchestra meetings. I’ll never forget the first time I danced to live music, it was electric. The adrenaline, the energy, the vibe, it made everything feel alive. Getting to know the orchestra members made it even more fun, and it felt like we were all working toward something magical.

Soon after, the evites started going out, and I sat at the laptop watching the RSVP numbers rise. It hit me, this is real!

The final test - the dreaded Arangetram test, which I thought would be terrifying, wasn’t actually that bad. But the stress leading up to it is what made it hard.

Now, it starts to feel like my life is slowly going to return back to normalcy, but when I really think about it, I can’t remember normalcy in my life. Dance has become part of me and my normalcy. Even though I am leaving the arangetram track, dance will always be with me and of course I still see everyone and aunty especially in the Saturday classes.

With Max who cheered me up

One of my absolute favorite parts about going to class has always been seeing Max. The way he greets me every day before class and those few minutes we spend together mean so much to me, they always make my day so much better. I think out of everything, that’s what I’ll miss the most.

I’m just so incredibly thankful for everything and everyone this past year and a half. The sore muscles, sleepless nights, and all the tough days, it was all worth it. I’m finally here. We’re finally here. Just a few more days to go.

Being on this track has taught me so much more than just dance, it's given me life lessons, resilience, and lifelong friendships. Watching it all come together now, I honestly couldn’t be happier!