Standing in the wing, I can see the orchestra and my teacher sitting at the other end of the stage smiling at me. The nerves were building as I heard my dad give the opening speech before I began dancing. It has been a long year of preparation building up to this day and it was still so surreal. 

 

The next thing I knew, the mridungist began to play the introduction beat, queuing me that I was about to make my debut as a solo dancer for the first time. After the first eight beats, the stage lights brightened as I placed a smile on my face. Swallowing the butterflies in my stomach, taking my first step on stage.  

 

As the music flowed through me, I began to get lost in the melody of the song and portray the story of the elephant god, Ganesha, to the audience in front of me. Before I knew it, the song was over and I was bowing to the audience before exiting the stage to prep for the next song.