Kala Ashram peloton is back from an explosive dash at the 4th All-India Dance Competition. 27 contestants in a tough race of 700 contenders; and yet, Udaipur brings home 13 shining gongs

Top Gear, Sanju. T.ooopppppp Ggggeaaaarrrr!

For anyone who has been in any split-second game where technique, timing and stamina matters as much as (may be even more than) the tools you carry – the thrill of winning something really tough is impossible to capture into words.

Specially, when you are there to push your own limits instead of beating someone else.

That’s what faces of Hridaya Khatri, Chirmai Nagda, Seema Chauhan said as they beamed with pride and exuded a happy loss of words. But inside, their hearts and, outside their friends erupted with celebration and adrenaline like never before.

At every performance, every tough gyration and every thunderous consummation that their Ghunghroos marked; awestruck people perched at the edge of their seats as well as eyes watching from behind the stage – could not help echoing a version of ‘Top gear’ as they cheered excellence on.

The race track, as formidable and superlative as it was, needed nothing less than the top gears for sure. It was an extreme competition organized by the Indian Art and Cultural Society, Cultural Carnival Goa at Baradari Auditorium, Hyderabad. The 4th All-India Dance Competition had galvanised about 700 participants from 19 different states all across India.

To represent Udaipur’s flair and inimitable devotion, there was Kala Ashram College of Performing Arts with 27 students exhibiting their hard-work-honed craft under the wings of Dr. Saroj Sharma, who was, incidentally, awarded with the illustrious ‘Nitya Sadhna Award 2017’ at the big conclave too.

Under her guidance, this turbo-charged and racing-to-the-top team supported by Indra Ji, Kamlesh Ji and Suraj Ji; brought back 5 gold medals, 6 silver medals, 1 bronze medal and 1 consolation prize.

The medals spanned all circuits- from Group Minor Kathak, Group Minor Folk, Minor Solo Kathak, Senior Group Kathak and Duet Minor Kathak that won the first prize; to Minor Solo Folk, Junior Group Kathak, Junior Solo Folk, Senior Solo Semi-Classical, Senior Solo Kathak, Open Solo Semi-Classical that won the second prize. Junior Freestyle and Junior Solo Kathak also won prizes here.

Upping their ante against the best feet and Ghungaroos from all across India were participants Hridaya Khatri, Madhuram Khatri, Unnati Nahar, Heena Dawood, Chirmai Nagda, Akshada Mehta, Adhya Babel, Shreya Choubisa, Seema Chauhan, Mahee Parakh, and Ada Jain.

Dr. Saroj Sharma, Director, Kala Ashram College of Performing Arts is, understandably, a happy Sensei right now glimmering with utter pride, “Dance says what is hard to be said, but which also cannot be left unsaid. Competitions like these always help a student and artist to inch closer to excellence. That’s what any stage is all about. Actualising the top gear that lies inside you.”

Today, everyone in the team is smiling the way Aamir smiled. Content. Happy and Ready for more races. Like the Bali Festival in Indonesia in 2018.