Born to Dance

As a four-year-old it was the glittering costumes of ace bharatnatyam dancers cum actors Vyjantimala and Hema Malini that inveigled Shweta Prachande into exploring the various shades of the dance form.

Basking in the glory of T S Parthasarathy award at the 20th Spirit of Youth festival of music and dance held by the Music Academy, Madras, the bharatnatyam prodigy says dance takes her to another world

As a four-year-old it was the glittering costumes of ace bharatnatyam dancers cum actors Vyjantimala and Hema Malini that inveigled Shweta Prachande into exploring the various shades of the dance form. Now at 19, with numerous national and international awards and over a hundred shows in India and abroad to her repertoire, what lures Prachande to bharatnatyam is its rhythm and moves. 8220;I enter another world while dancing. A world free from worries awaits me the moment I take my first step to dance. It is like a form of expression to me and the moves and rhythms energise me. I simply love to dance8221;, shares an ecstatic Prachande.

Prachande who was also amongst the Indian delegates for commonwealth day celebrations in Maldives this year feels dance comes naturally to her, 8220;Dance comes like a flow to me. It sweeps over me soothing my senses and refreshes me filling me with energy.8221; Her dance classes started when she was just four and the journey has just begun. After completing her initial training in bharatnatyam she is taking an advanced course in it at Kalakshetra, Chennai from Priyadarsini Govind and Shajilal. The movement of any form of dance either classical or western is enough to create the urge to control the reigns of the rhythm and moves of the dance form. 8220;Apart from bharatnatyam I am also learning ballet. It was after performing abroad I decided I will have to widen my horizons. Bharatnatyam is my first love but I want to explore dance in all its forms now,8221; shares the ardent lover of dance.

With her dancing grace appreciated at the International Classical and Folk Music and Dance Festival in Russia and USA where she bagged the first prize the prodigy has a long way to go.

Prachande who is chosen for the T S Parthasarathy Award for the best dancer will recieve the award on the Sadas Day of 82nd Annual Conference and Concerts to be held on January 1, 2009 in Chennai.