Bharatanatyam and Paris

by Nila Sathiesh

When my family travels, we are all about a tight itinerary and using every hour in the most efficient way we can. While those trips are fulfilling in their own right, sometimes the most memorable trips can be the ones where not everything is planned.

From visiting the Louvre to the city pharmacy, my summer trip to Pariswas full of fun moments. We enjoyed our time at cafés eating so many different and unique dishes like Nutella crepes, chicken crepes, fruit crepes, and salmon crepes. I had been to Paris before and seen the palace of Versailles, Arc de Triomphe, the Palais Garnier and many more—but I hadn’t taken my time to see the mundane beauties of the city. The crowded outdoor seating areas, the city lights at night, and the stunning architecture found in every corner.

Of course this trip would not be what it was without the people I was traveling with. I could never have imagined I would make the connections I did going into this trip— going on Disneyland rides with newfound friends, walking though gardens with aunties, and having rehearsals before dinner(as well as the rehearsals in the studio). I had a lot of fun learning and dancing the choreographies, especially the Disney songs.

This trip was fun, exciting, and unforgettable. Spending this summer with dance and Paris gave me a different perspective on dance and what it can be in the future.