In 2013, I enrolled in the Professional Dance Study Program (PDSP), an intense three-month training program.

Out of our batch, only three of us openly stated that we didn’t intend to pursue dance as a career. Many people were amazed by our commitment to such a rigorous program, but I was determined to fully experience dance, thinking this opportunity might not come again. Not everyone wants to turn all their passions into their professions.

Although I was deeply inclined towards classical dance forms and still I am, I was eager to technically explore and learn other dance forms. I had been dancing since the 1st grade but entering the technical realm of dance forms other than classical took my understanding to a whole new level. For the first time, I became acquainted with terms like pas de bourrée, plié, pirouette, arabesque, and beyond.

Each day brought a new adventure: early morning yoga classes, mandatory ballet and strengthening classes, fixed hours to complete every week, a super-disciplined routine (not a minute late was permitted), practices for long hours, and long commutes just to satiate my hunger for dance. Gradually, I found myself drawn to contemporary dance form, only to realize that hip-hop was my true forte. Wow! That was a surprise I never expected.

Unless you explore, how will you discover your true calling or purpose? I always knew dance was my passion but never saw it as my true calling. Dance makes me feel alive, but it doesn’t drive me. When you start exploring, you begin to feel what exactly is for you in your mind and body—a sort of alignment, with every inch communicating, “This is it” (subjective experience though!).

So, never fear exploring and experimenting. Not everyone needs to follow a pre-defined path. As you journey, you can carve your own way. Even a wrong turn can lead you to the right place. Just START!

P.S. Here’s a snapshot from the first day of the PDSP when we were asked, ‘Who wants to take dance as their career?’

#neverstopexploring #followyourpath #PDSP2013