If You’re Happy and You Know it, Dance Your Heart Out!

To borrow from Harper Lee, I never loved dancing before. After all, one does not love breathing. Although it has always been a part of me, like Scout, I realized my love for the art quite late. I have been taking up lessons in Bharatanatyam, Kuchipudi and Mohiniyattam since I was 5, and followed through with it till my college days, whence I added a western twist and picked up hip-hop. 

And then, I entered the corporate world for my first ever job. Now, starting out for the first time is hard; everything is new and foreign, and there is so much data available everywhere but not enough time. It could get a little overwhelming. But like the adage says, “There are no mountains too high. No river too wide to cross.”

Although the 3-month product training was tough, we came out of the other end better for it. With the raging pandemic and my own busy schedule, I couldn’t find time for myself at first. But it became easier to find some much-needed me time once I got the hang of things.  

If I am being really honest, my job in the IT sector couldn’t be more different from my interest in dancing. That’s the thing, really. They are polar opposites, but complement each other almost perfectly. While my job requires me to work around 8 hours a day and demands very little physical activity, my dance demands that I stay in good form. The former requires me to keep a level head and think logically, and the latter, to feel and create connections with the music. Where one urges me to step up my game and keep up with the pace, the other lets me slow down and move at my own pace.

Not only do they make a wholesome set together, the physical activity of the routine also keeps my mind refreshed and my body energized. Studies have shown that dancing improves not only one’s physical and mental well-being but also fosters interpersonal relationships and creative thinking, and I agree (for the most part 😉). I feel more relaxed and in sync with my thoughts since I picked up the beat again. Although it was no walk in the park, it was certainly worth the effort.  

I am currently into Product Management, Technical Research and Tech Documentation at Mitsogo. My work life never hinders my passion for dance, which I am greatly proud of. I’ve also tried picking up new hobbies in my free time, but dancing is still one of my favorites. After all, a little music and dance is the perfect way to shut down and recharge after a busy week.