Reflection

Reflection

When I was a little girl, I believed I could talk to the wind. It whisked away my worries. The trees waved like old friends. The rain would dance with me in joy and cry beside me in sorrow. Back then, I didn’t just live in nature—I lived with her. But as I grew older, I began to see her faltering. I learned about the burdens she carried, and I realised she was no immortal goddess, but a living being, wounded and weary. Her oceans, once vast blue realms of bliss, now churn in anguish. This idea became the centerpiece of my dance piece, "Tale of a Sea Spirit," where I performed Bharatanatyam to convey the desperate conditions of a troubled water spirit. Bharat Natyam is an ancient Indian classical dance form that conveys rich narratives through precise footwork, graceful hand gestures, and vivid facial expressions. *The Tale of a Sea Spirit*, I portray a part of her as a water spirit in an attempt to bring to light a small segment of her woes. Through rhythm, expression, and gesture, I tell the story of her transition from an euphoric ecosystem that housed the largest singing whales, to the tiniest dancing fish, to a withering, desolate environment, where all creatures could only be seen perishing. As I dance, I become both witness and mourner. I feel the rate of exploitation taking over her harmonious life. But I also carry her strength. How she fights back with tsunamis and hurricanes, for nature can be unforgiving, but we have not yet faced the true wrath of our actions. This piece was not just a creative outlet, but a medium to voice my concerns and the pleas of nature. It helped me realize that we, as humans, are part of nature. We are gifted with this ability to think and grow to protect and nurture the natural wonders of the world, not exhaust them to extinction. I hope that those who watch will not just see a dance, but also feel a call inside. To protect Mother Nature when she’s at the face of adversity and to listen to her whispering pleas, before they fade completely.