The delicate balance: Notes from the in-between generation

- Shreya Kumar Gopal Rao
e-mail: shreya.skgr@gmail.com

February 5, 2026

Somedays, my life feels like a study in contrast. I wake up, surrounded by deadlines, ambitions, and dreams that stretch into the future. In the evening, I share the last bit of golden sunlight with intensive rhythms, twinkling gejje bells, and the resonant sound of the nattuvangam.

At 16, I’m rooted between two worlds, one full of speed, innovation, and palpable results, whereas the other is still, deep, and complete, like the slow crest of a wave. And yet, rather than clashing, these two worlds have begun to merge, shaping who I am becoming. Somewhere in their meeting, I discovered a delicate balance.

My training in Bharatanatyam has exposed me to feelings and thoughts my regular world would never have taught me. Much like Daniel LaRusso in Karate Kid, I often wondered how an aramandi would help me in life. However, I was quickly proven wrong. That same quiet discipline that forced me to stay consistent in my dance began showing up all over my life. Patience was born through countless repetitions, and it lent a steady hand when I faced academic anxiousness. Expression on stage showed me how to speak, listen, and connect, encouraging me to step out of my comfort zone and meet new people. Focus, endurance, and emotional presence were some of the beautiful by-products of my dancing, and without me realizing it, they revealed the power of slowing down and honoring tradition in a rapidly modernizing world.

At the same time, growing up in a creative, digitally connected world has also influenced the way I approach dance. Social media, constant information, and exposure to diverse perspectives change transformed the reason why I pursued Bharatanatyam. From a simple everyday activity, I began searching for the “why” and “how” within the dance itself. How do we portray an age-old tale while capturing the true emotions behind it? Why did the composer decide to arrange the taalam like this? These questions drew me deeper into the stories, emotions, and philosophy behind dance urging me to seek meaning beyond technical perfection.

At its peak, preparing for my arangetram became the moment when my worlds fully collided. I was often listening to my arangetram pieces in school, anticipating dance class, and thinking about my tests while practicing my pieces. Something was not working out. For a while, nothing felt fully aligned. But I began to immerse myself wholly into my work, determined not to give up and to simply remain present. Slowly, balance stopped meaning perfection, but rather presence. Through this process, dance softened my modern anxieties, while modern life grounded my artistic pursuit.

For young dancers today, tradition is not defined by isolation. It lives and breathes alongside technology, ambition, and rapidly shifting identities. This connection uniquely preserves culture by letting it stay dynamic. Not frozen in time, but alive in conversation with the present. We do not simply inherit tradition; we reinterpret it through our lived experiences. And in doing so, we ensure that the spirit of classical dance lives on, gracefully evolving with each generation.

Bharatanatyam dancer and student writer Shreya Kumar Gopal Rao is a disciple of Sreedhara Akhihebbalu (San Antonio), Aler Krishnan (San Diego), and Padmini Upadhya (Bangalore). She is also a Carnatic flute player. In addition to performing, she writes through her independent platform, Naadarasika.

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