Swara Bhatt is a student of Kathak and is a sophomore at Robinson High School. This is what the girl with the sweetest smile has to say:
1.When did you start dancing and who are your gurus?
I started dancing from the age of 7, and I haven’t stopped since. Throughout this time, I have been taught by many gurus. My first Guru is my mother and dance teacher Mrs. Purvi Bhatt. I also had the privilege of learning from my mother’s Guru Mrs. Maneesha Sathe, Pune, India for past 10 years.
2. How do you prep for a dance performance?
The most important thing is to practice before a performance. Normally I do this every other day, and then closer to the performance date I practice daily. I find that once I am finished learning the choreography, I first practice the areas I am weak on. After perfecting that, I go over the whole dance.
3. What’s your favorite dance item or music piece you listen to when you want to connect to dance?
My favorite dance item is the Holi piece, as it is a very happy and lively dance and I have more creative control with expressions and hand movements as I am dancing.
4. How would you describe an amazing dancer and do you have any inspiring role models?
An amazing dancer, in my eyes, is a dancer who is talented in their particular dance form & is dedicated and passionate. In my life, I have many role models who I look up to and admire, such as Guru Mrs. Maneesha Sathe & HM Queen Elizabeth II.
5. What is the most important life lesson you have learnt because of dancing?
If you practice, then you will succeed. In dance, there have been multiple occasions when we have learnt a difficult piece, and one part is just not clicking or I don’t seem to get the choreo. So, to avoid the disappointment, I practice until I am able to perfect the piece. The motto is “practice and practice until you get it”.
6. In your eyes, what’s your biggest achievement or moment of satisfaction (in dance)?
In my eyes, my biggest achievement is getting First class with Distinction on my level 5 (Higher Certificate 2) exam in Kathak dance. And my biggest moment of satisfaction is when during my dance recital, in the middle of the dance, the music got cut off. Instead of stopping, I continued doing the dance, with a big smile on my face. I was proud of myself for not stopping in between and I continued to be professional about the situation.
7. It’s the year 2024 – where do you see yourself in the dance field?
In 2024, I would see myself as a performer in the dance field, rather than a teacher. If I live outside of the NoVa region, then I will try to look for the opportunities to perform in events whenever I can and my goal will be to spread awareness/educate mainstream people about centuries-old Indian dance form.
