Personality Of The Month
Manisha: Rajani, Tell us a little bit about your childhood Rajani: I was born and brought up in Bangalore. I did my schooling at St.Teresa Convent, Bangalore. After schooling, I did engineering, B.Tech., and M.Tech. in silk and textile technology from SKSJTI, the Government Sri Krishna Rajendra Silver Jubilee Technological Institute.
Manisha: Tell us a little bit about your parents.
Rajani: My mother, Vijayashchan, is a graduate and has been a housewife; she is the strongest pillar of support for me even today. My father, K. R. Adisheshan, is an engineer by education and worked with the Karnataka State Electricity Board for 40 years until his retirement. After that, he worked for a couple of private organizations, like CMC, as he was into satellite communication. I get my strength of character from my parents.
Manisha: When and how did dance become a part of your life?
Rajani: As you know, in every other house in the south, children learn classical dance. I was part of the same culture. I started learning dance (Bharatanatyam) when I was 3 years old from Guru Savita Arun. I finished my junior exam with Savita, ma’am, and then had to take a break for my 12th boards. After that, I continued with my sister, Vani Kowshik, who has mastered Bharatanatyam and Kuchipudi. I studied with her and finished my senior exam.
Manisha: You now teach dance full-time; where are you currently working?
Rajani: I am a full-time dance teacher at Gurgaon’s Kunskaps-skolan School.
Earlier, I taught dance part-time and full-time in various other schools like Shri Ram Aravali, Shri Ram Global, Little Footprints, Sixth Element, Pumpkin House, Ridge Valley, Presidium, Mother’s Pride, Pallavanjali, and Pallavan (all three branches).
I have also worked at the Lotus Petal Foundation, an NGO, as a volunteer.
Manisha: I see that engineering has taken a back seat and your love for dance has taken over. Tell us a little bit more about your dancing years.
Rajani: I have done numerous stage shows on Bharatanatyam and won many awards during intercollege competitions. For the last 16 years, I have been conducting private dance classes for all age groups, from 2 years to 70 years old. I teach Bharatnatyam, free-style dance, Bolloywood, and Zumba too. I am also a wedding choreographer and event organizer.
I have been conducting month-long Garba workshops in various places all across Gurgaon during the Navratri festival and have done choreography for Gujarati Samaj groups as well.
Manisha: Wow!! You seem to have done it all; what next?
Rajani: In dance, you never seem to have done enough. While I have learned Bharatnatyam and am now teaching too, the student in me was yearning to learn, so I am learning Belly Dance. I am currently on the intermediate level and continuing.
Manisha: How can we see some of your work?
Rajani: I have a YouTube channel called Padanyaas-anybody can dance.
Manisha: What is your mantra for dancing?
Rajani: You must have heard the term ABCD-Anybody Can Dance. Well, I take it one step further and say, There is no right way of dancing; it just comes from within, and the body starts moving on its own. This is the best therapy for stress relief in today’s day and age.
There is no age to start dancing; start whenever your heart tells you to. That is why ABCD.
I always say, Dancing with your feet is fantastic but dancing with your heart is bliss
