Sometimes, my students’ younger siblings are my best allies.
One of my pre-teen students arrived at the studio for group class, clearly in a foul mood.
I watched closely, and let her settle in. We often start with sharing news before beginning our warm up for class. This gives students a chance to share what’s on their minds, and for me to learn a little about what’s going on with them in their lives.
T – “So, what’s the news?”
S – “News is, my sister is SO annoying!”
The grumpy student’s outburst was unusual. This student is usually quite cheerful, and rarely loses her cool. Her younger sister was about 5 at the time, and hadn’t yet started learning dance.
T – “What’s going on?”
S – “She just spent the ENTIRE car ride asking me to show her asamyuta hastas OVER and OVER. She said I hadn’t done my dance homework and needed to practice!”
T – “Hmmm, well it’s good that she is curious and sounds like she wanted to be helpful. Was it good practice for you?”
S – “Well, yeah. But she was so bossy!”
T – “So it might have felt annoying, but she did help you. So that part is good.”
S – “You already keep me accountable, I don’t need that from her too!”
T #mindvoice “Well done, little grasshopper.”
https://kalavandanam.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/natyamnaatak_20240329-845-×-321-px.jpg321845Suchitra Sairam/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/logo.pngSuchitra Sairam2024-03-29 08:00:542024-03-28 10:17:39#natyamnaatak - Accountability Hits Too Close to Home
I taught a 1 week Bharatanatyam residency at a local STEM elementary school. With 4 different groups of 2nd graders over 4 days, there was much to share and learn (and entertainment to be had.)
But it nearly came to an end before I really got started.
It was Day 1 and the 2nd class. With any residency, after getting to know a little about each of the kids, I introduce some basic vocal percussion we use for rhythmic counting in our dancing.
“I’ll say it in rhythm, and you repeat after me. And clap along with me too.”
Heads nodded in anticipation. Eyes on me.
“Tha – Ka – Dhi – Mi – Tha – Ka – Jha – Nu”
“I’M GOING TO TELL ON YOU! TO THE TEACHERS, TO MY PARENTS, TO THE PRINCIPAL! YOU ARE GOING TO BE IN SO MUCH TROUBLE!”
I was perplexed, but intrigued. “Can you tell me what’s wrong?”
“YOU ARE MAKING US SWEAR AND SAY BAD WORDS. THAT ISN’T NICE AT ALL.”
I froze… “I’m making kids cuss?” Before I could ask what the student meant, he burst out…
“You want us to say Fa – Ka – Dhi – Mi Fa – Ka – Dhi – Mi”
It took every ounce of my being to keep a straight face. “I’m so sorry that’s what you thought – here, let me write it on the whiteboard so you can see it’s not bad words.”
After seeing it, the student replies “Oh, you are nice after all, you aren’t making us say swear words.”
NOTE TO SELF – next time, WRITE IT ON THE BOARD FIRST.
There is a wonderful Sanskrit phrase “simha avalokanam.” The translation is plain, the meaning is profound. It translates to “the lion’s backward look.”
And why is it profound?
Gazing backward introspectively, assessing the path traveled, prepares the lion to leap forward.
This intention opens the path forward with:
Skills
Lessons
Gratitude
Objectivity
Experiences
Relationships
Accomplishments
As we prepare to leap forward into 2024, we take a meaningful look back. Thank you for journeying with us!
https://kalavandanam.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/simhavalokanam_20240101_845x321.png321845Suchitra Sairam/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/logo.pngSuchitra Sairam2024-01-01 08:47:282024-01-01 08:47:282023 Retrospective - A Look Back to Leap Ahead
I recently took a weekend off for wedding anniversary travel, and caught a lot of flack from some students.
S1 – “Why don’t we have class next week?”
T – “Well, I’m traveling, so we’ll regroup for class in 2 weeks.”
S2 – “But I don’t understand why you need to travel, there isn’t a holiday or anything.”
T – “Well, my husband and I have our 28th wedding anniversary, so we are going on a short trip.”
S3 – “But that’s not a holiday. That’s optional.”
S2 – “Yeah, I mean if it was Spring Break or something, we would all go on a holiday. But you are just doing something random.”
S4 – “Seems random to me too. It’s not like you need time off from dance or something.”
T – #mindvoice “Ummmm…..”
#natyamnaatak #dancehumor #nobreaksforteachers
https://kalavandanam.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/natyamnaatak_20231127-845-×-321-px.jpg321845Suchitra Sairam/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/logo.pngSuchitra Sairam2023-11-27 08:24:022023-11-27 08:24:02#natyamnaatak - "Why Don’t We Have Class?"
Kala Vandanam’s annual Natya Sadhana celebration for Vijayadasami day just passed… our 21st time celebrating together!
As much as this teacher wants the art to be just right, this teacher also understands there are much simpler goals… getting every student on and off stage with:
1/ No tears 😪
2/ No injuries 🤕
3/ Lots of smiles 😃
Every student also has their own goals – one recurring theme this year was managing stage anxiety, including “I have Stage Anxiety to the Max!”
Afterward, many were delighted to report their stage anxiety “wasn’t that bad” this year. Maybe even gone for good!
One student even came and thanked me for my “smart planning.”
“I think you made a really good decision about what to teach our class. We went so early and the show went so fast, none of us even had time to be stressed out before performed. Did you do that on purpose?”
Internationally acclaimed Indian music maestro Ustad Zakir Hussain is the pre-eminent tabla virtuoso of our times. He’s also credited with being one of the architects of contemporary world music.
On one hand, he was destined for musical greatness as the son and prime disciple of 20th century tabla legend Ustad Alla Rakha.
On the other hand, his greatness comes from being an exemplary student.
Zakir-ji says, “A student must inspire a teacher to teach.” This, coming from a man who trained under his father’s watchful eye from the time he was 7 years old. Yet, he would also practice and practice, “waiting to see if I would get any attention from The Man.”
The attention came when he took lessons given to him, and he embellished or enhanced it further.
What did this inspire from his father and guru? The next idea or phrase, adding another twist, angle, point of view and level of difficulty. This led to the next level and layer of growth and exploration by the student.
And this growth cycle would continue endlessly.
🔁 A lesson leads to practice.
⏩ Practice leads to understanding.
🧭 Understanding leads to exploration.
🔆 Exploration leads to inspiration.
💡 Inspiration leads to innovation.
💫 Innovation leads to growth.
According to many great masters of Indian arts, the flow of knowledge is like a fast-flowing, engorged river. That river of knowledge passes near each of us through our teachers, parents, bosses, mentors, peers – anyone from whom we learn.
It’s in our control to take a cupful, a bucketful or a truckload from that river. Or we can keep walking alongside the river.
It’s easy to complain about bad teachers, bosses or mentors. But are we, first and foremost, good students, employees or mentees?
https://kalavandanam.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/KV_studentsjobtolearn_20231004_845x321.png321845Suchitra Sairam/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/logo.pngSuchitra Sairam2023-10-04 18:00:192023-10-08 18:04:40It’s Not a Teacher’s Job to Teach. It is a Student’s Job to Learn.
Often, parents apologize to me on behalf of their children.
Most often, it’s about:
Class behavior
Lack of practice
Schedule conflicts
Forgetting to bring something
Some of it is definitely comical.
What’s more hilarious (and sometimes alarming!) are my students apologizing to me about their parents.
“I’m really sorry I am late to class. I’m ready to leave on time, but my dad is ALWAYS running late. And he doesn’t believe in being on time.”
“I’m sorry I can’t come to class next week, my dad can’t bring me. He said has to travel for work and make money so he can pay for dance class.”
A student who was “out sick” the previous week apologized when I asked how she was feeling now. “I’m sorry my mom lied and told you I was sick. She wanted me to come to a party for a family friend.” (PSA to all parents of dance students… please don’t make your kids keep track of your lies.)
From a student who wanted to come watch me perform in a show but didn’t come, “I’m sorry I can’t come to your show. My parents said I didn’t need to come if I wasn’t dancing.” (PSA to all parents of dance students… this is the WRONG answer.)
#natyamnaatak – Accountability Hits Too Close to Home
/in #natyamnaatak, Blog /by Suchitra SairamSometimes, my students’ younger siblings are my best allies.
One of my pre-teen students arrived at the studio for group class, clearly in a foul mood.
I watched closely, and let her settle in. We often start with sharing news before beginning our warm up for class. This gives students a chance to share what’s on their minds, and for me to learn a little about what’s going on with them in their lives.
The grumpy student’s outburst was unusual. This student is usually quite cheerful, and rarely loses her cool. Her younger sister was about 5 at the time, and hadn’t yet started learning dance.
#natyamnaatak – “I’m Going to Tell on You!”
/in #natyamnaatak, Blog /by Suchitra Sairam2023 Retrospective – A Look Back to Leap Ahead
/in Blog /by Suchitra SairamBy Suchitra Sairam
There is a wonderful Sanskrit phrase “simha avalokanam.” The translation is plain, the meaning is profound. It translates to “the lion’s backward look.”
And why is it profound?
Gazing backward introspectively, assessing the path traveled, prepares the lion to leap forward.
This intention opens the path forward with:
As we prepare to leap forward into 2024, we take a meaningful look back. Thank you for journeying with us!
#natyamnaatak – “Why Don’t We Have Class?”
/in #natyamnaatak, Blog /by Suchitra SairamI recently took a weekend off for wedding anniversary travel, and caught a lot of flack from some students.
#natyamnaatak #dancehumor #nobreaksforteachers
#natyamnaatak – “Stage Anxiety (Not to the Max)”
/in #natyamnaatak, Blog /by Suchitra SairamIt’s Not a Teacher’s Job to Teach. It is a Student’s Job to Learn.
/in Blog /by Suchitra SairamBy Suchitra Sairam
On one hand, he was destined for musical greatness as the son and prime disciple of 20th century tabla legend Ustad Alla Rakha.
On the other hand, his greatness comes from being an exemplary student.
Zakir-ji says, “A student must inspire a teacher to teach.” This, coming from a man who trained under his father’s watchful eye from the time he was 7 years old. Yet, he would also practice and practice, “waiting to see if I would get any attention from The Man.”
The attention came when he took lessons given to him, and he embellished or enhanced it further.
What did this inspire from his father and guru? The next idea or phrase, adding another twist, angle, point of view and level of difficulty. This led to the next level and layer of growth and exploration by the student.
And this growth cycle would continue endlessly.
It’s in our control to take a cupful, a bucketful or a truckload from that river. Or we can keep walking alongside the river.
It’s easy to complain about bad teachers, bosses or mentors. But are we, first and foremost, good students, employees or mentees?
#natyamnaatak – “APOLOGIES, APOLOGIES…”
/in #natyamnaatak, Blog /by Suchitra SairamOften, parents apologize to me on behalf of their children.
Most often, it’s about:
What’s more hilarious (and sometimes alarming!) are my students apologizing to me about their parents.