INSPIRATION

 

Yester evening I had been to a dance recital. It was at Kalakshetra,  at Rukmini auditorium.

The recital was by Dr.Vijayanthimala Bali.

I had seen her dance in so many films. But I had had never an opportunity to see a live performance.

Last year I had seen her amongst the audience, in a singing recital. She had turned up, sharp on time, and had taken her seat just in front of me, a few rows ahead.

She sat ram rod straight throughout the 2 hours performance, and had not got up even once to take a break. I was so impressed, by her fitness.

I checked on Google. She was born on August 13^th 1936. That made her 76 years old. She was elder to me by 18 years, and so much fitter. So this was what drove me to see her dance.

She had her knees perfectly half bent as is the demand of a perfect posture, bowed deep down and touched the floor with both hands in the typical salutation gesture. “So flexible, “the message went down to the audience who simply showered her with a round of respectful applause.   She began her recital with a medium paced piece. The song was executed with a simplicity that comes to, thinking aged dancers. She was intelligent in choosing all the moves which she could do well and avoided all those tricky ones which could embarrass her.  She compensated with grace and fluidity of movements.

She had her expression well within control, and just had the optimal levels of emotions displayed: Neither more nor less.

She did not tire throughout the performance, there was no heavy breathing, even when a number lasted for 40 minutes. She took no short breaks and performed like it was a part of her daily routine.

I was seated 100 feet away from the stage. From that distance, I could appreciate the reason for heavy make up of the eyes, which could deliver expressions to those seated far away.

From here it looked as though a 35 year young extremely beautiful graceful woman was performing.  

It was thrilling to see what someone could do, with a life time of discipline. She sat on the stage and sprang to the next standing position, whirled around without loosing balance, half reclined in a movement, to shift gracefully to the next posture, and stood steady on one leg.   

The performance was met with, repeated applause, from an audience, who were art lovers, who had to sit on the floor, and stand in-between small spaces for 2 hours without complaining, as every seat was taken.

She was a brand, worth watching, delighting and emulating.

At the end of the performance, I came out inspired.

I had given up many of my loved activities; because I was growing old and could not do many things as well as I could do it when I was younger.

Now she had changed my perspective.

It is important to keep in touch with all those things which add joy to your life.

Be it knitting, singing, and painting, playing games, friends or relatives. You might not be able to give the best performance always. But if you stop, you will do much worse than you could, had you continued.  

So keep in touch with yourself and all the things you love. It adds happiness to life, shoos away boredom, brings peace within, and prevents us in interfering with others. Most importantly it makes you, your own source of joy.