Live to dance and dance to live!

"We dance for laughter,
We dance for tears,
We dance for madness,
We dance for fears,
We dance for hopes,
We dance for screams,
We are the dancers,
We create dreams!"

                                                   ~Albert Einstein

Dance is an art form. It is the movement of the body on the beats of music to express certain emotions and messages. Dance is a prayer and meditation. 

In my opinion, dance is one of the most expressive and attractive forms of art. It is a blend of music and drama. Dance in itself is very diverse and our country is a perfect example of this diversity. As we move from the mighty Himalayas towards the widespread plains and the serene coasts, we see dance forms changing from Garhwali to Lavani, Kud to Chhau, Kathak to Bharatnatyam, Odissi to Kathakali and so on. 

Dance is something which comes from within. You don't need to be a professional dancer to dance your heart out, but if it is your hobby, you definitely need to nurture it!

Dance has played a crucial role in my life and I am glad to have known this amazing piece of art at such a young age. For many of us, dance is a prayer and it connects us to god. Standing on stage and stretching the hands and legs gracefully gives a feeling that nothing else in world can ever do.

Most Indian classical dance forms originated from temples and dance was considered a prayer and a medium to connect to the omnipotent. Then as time passed many dance forms saw changes and made their way to the stage where they were performed to impress the audience though many still didn't see any change and continued to be performed in temples. And presently, these dance forms have become our heritage and are a medium to express emotions, give messages and portray the history of our country. Various mythologies like the stories from Mahabharata, Ramayana and Krishna Leela are portrayed through dance.

Dance connects hearts. Dance brings grace to your body, peace to your mind and happiness to your heart. Dance and music enrich your personality, improve your concentration and enhance your knowledge. Dance is the hidden language of the soul. It expresses feelings which maybe difficult to express in words.

Among many advantages, dance is a physical activity which keeps you fit and flexible. It is a meditation which lets you know your deeper self. It also diverts your mind from the hustle and bustle of everyday life and thus, it helps you to find some time for yourself.

These rich art forms are a part of our glorious past and it is our duty to pass on this heritage to our future generations just as efficiently as our forebears did.