Unofficially I started teaching dance (Kuchipudi) five years ago.. in bits and pieces but to never more than ten students. In that way, 2019 is a very special year for me as I took up teaching more seriously and vigorously. I still consider myself as an amateur teacher as I learn every day while teaching my kids and hence I share my joys and struggles as a teacher in this series of "Amateur Teaching Tales".
My commitment to my students is only two classes a week, 8 classes per month. But as a person who walked the same path, I could feel the pressure of bringing improvement in them in the stipulated time and I am very emotional about their progress. In fact, I see myself in my students, my master in me and my parents in my students' parents. When my students don't practice, I yell at them saying, "You don't understand! I walked the same path hence please understand the importance of practice". Every moment I teach them, I remember my teacher on how he taught me, both the movement and the essence of the movement. When I see my students' parents sacrifice everything to their children or when I see them rush to see improvement in their kids, I see my parents in them. But what I try to give them is "a better path and a tough and determined mind".
My dancing journey seems to be an easy one from outside but I know how the way I danced changed every year. The trajectory wasn't smooth and it was a roller coaster. I was fortunate enough to get the right gurus in my life which laid a strong foundation for me. But I also spent a few no-guidance, no-direction years in my life which perhaps slowed down the journey a bit, not in terms of success or performances as I have always been performing. But in terms of heart's fulfillment and the contentment of dancing. In a way, it was a blessing in disguise as it threw me into the most uncomfortable zone and made me think independently and organize my choreographies and performances. I am ok doing them imperfectly but on my own. Today, with this experience, I wouldn't be petrified by last-minute performances or changes, or new concepts or any such surprises. I also realize and am very clear that "performances", "success", "fame" are very momentary and don't give us true happiness. Yes, they are important but they are not everything.
1. Practice - Out of all the values I want to instill, how can I stress the value and importance of "practice" enough to them? While every art form needs practice, dance is even more challenging as the 'body' is involved in it. There are many wonderful dancers out there who are performing not so well as they didn't keep their bodies in control. I don't shy away from saying that I had bad performances in the past due to a lack of practice and stamina. I recollect one of my favourite quotes from a famous Russian violinist:
"If I don't practice one day, I know it; two days, the critics know it; three days, the public knows it."
2. Fitness - Having a strong foundation before 18 years of age is extremely important as it gives a certain confidence to get along with any dance in the future. I was so thankful to a fitness instructor who used to come to my home and wake me up in the morning at 5 o clock and give me fitness lessons. I used to cry to do the class but nobody cared. Today, I am so thankful for those classes as I realize the importance of fitness and whatever little strength I have is because of those fitness classes. As I walked the same path, I stress how important fitness is to my students, apart from regular dance class and I want better fitness for them than mine.
3. Quality over quantity - When my students' parents rush for the progress in their students in terms of quantity (no. of items), which is quite natural and fair, I feel like telling them that the 'number' is not everything. I have learned around 50 items from my guru and I hardly remember a few items. It is quite natural for parents to feel it that way as 'art' is not so quantifiable. But I want them to know it is not okay to learn hundreds of items without the right technique and training.
4. Everybody's journey is different - Watching people from other states and dance forms work so hard and watching them practice relentlessly, I see there is no importance to "seniority" over "sincerity". The junior-senior dynamics don't work anymore. It is only who works hard and be sincere to it till the end that survives. Yes, any art form is about talent and skill. While talent is inborn, which gives the necessary momentum to start, anyone who works hard with the right attitude to hone their skill remains till the end. We never know when and how a child blooms into a beautiful dancer. Sometimes, it would be from the least expected student or in the least expected time. How pathetic when we ourselves stop them from blooming as we rush about everything.
5. Being a fair parent and a fair teacher - A teacher is said to be fair when they push the talented and hard-working student to do better, when they slow down for the slow learner and when they bring the talented yet not so hard-working student to the basics and make them understand about the importance of groundedness and practice. From outside, it might look like the teacher is pushing a few students. But as a teacher, I know how I feel very anxious about my slow learning student, sad about talented yet not very hard-working student. I envision a future for the talented ones but alas! it is pathetic when they themselves don't realize their awaiting future, which is ready to unfold if only they worked hard. A parent is fair when they can be truly happy about other children's progress and when they can TRUST the teacher. When the trust is not gone, it is better to leave the teacher than to sit and rant about it.
And since I walked the path, I know that all that matters is "self-contentment" and a place in the heart of their gurus as good dancers. Yes yes yes ! It is a learning process to the parents and teachers too. But I don't want my students to learn this in a hard way like me. I don't want them to quit dancing in the middle and then realize how they lost their precious passion, I don't want their parents to compare their children's progress with others and pressurize the kids and I want them to understand the beauty of dance, the discipline, order, spiritual values that it gives to the learner, on-looker and the teacher. Because.....
"I walked the path and I want to guide them better".
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| Today, I see the smiles of innocence and tomorrow, I want to see the joy of contentment. Two of my lovelies twinning and giving a vibe that dance class is 'family' :) :) |
Nice,
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