From Your Diary: Arushi Kotru
Dancing through Life
When I was 2 years old, my mom got a coupon in the mail for ballet class at the local dance studio. Little did she know, that coupon was the catalyst to my life-long relationship with dance. I slowly enrolled in other styles at the studio and eventually ended up joining the competitive dance team at the age of 11. Simultaneously, in 2007, I began taking classes in Bharatanatyam – Indian Classical dance. The closest studio was an hour away, but we made the drive every weekend. After 10 years of commuting back and forth, I completed my Bharatanatyam Arangetram in 2017. Finally, in 2019, I joined my university’s Bhangra team. I cannot remember my life without dance, but I do not want to imagine a life without it.
One of my favorite things about dance is that when I am dancing, none of my worries are present. School can become very stressful and overwhelming. I can be swamped with homework and exams while on the verge of tears, but as long as I am dancing, I am carefree. Dance is my escape from reality and a safe place when I need to de-stress. I never knew how imperative dance was for my own mental health until I began my freshman year of college last year.
Freshman year of college is always so highly regarded. Everyone talks about all the great friends you make, the parties, and the freedom. What they fail to mention is the sudden lifestyle change, adjustment to living without family, and mental toll that comes with this new chapter of life. It took me a very long time to completely adjust to my new college lifestyle. I was not expecting to join a dance team, especially one in Bhangra- a traditional dance from the Indian state of Punjab that I had never trained in before. However, I am so thankful that I did. Through my dance team, I have met so many amazing people, gone on numerous fun trips, and become part of a close family.
As I became busier throughout the year and my courses got harder, this community through dance kept me sane and has done the same this summer. I am taking eleven credits (not sure why I did this to myself) and hold some regret due to the overload. Still, I know it will pay off in the long run as I pursue a future in medicine. Given all that has happened in life personally and globally since my summer classes began, it has been very hard to focus on school and stay determined. I am completely burnt out. Having at least one exam every single week on top of hours and hours of daily readings, lecture videos, zoom calls, and assignments has led to this. I have made sure that no matter how busy I am, I try to dance a few times each week. I have been taking different zoom Bhangra classes since March and learning choreography on the side for fun. Continuing to dance is how I have been able to deal with my burnout and not allow my mental health to deteriorate.
No matter what ups and downs life’s roller coaster takes me on, dance has been there since 2003 to keep me mentally healthy and sane.
- Arushi Kotru
