Tyaag Aur Seva - The Seventh Principle by Aanya Shah
The Seventh Principle of Pandit Chitresh Das:
ताग और सेवा. “Tyaag aur Seva” – Sacrifice & selfless service
A core value of the teachings and training at CDI isvalues of selflessness and sacrifice. These values must manifest both within the context of their study of Kathak and also permeate in other aspects of their lives by giving back to their communities and the society by and large.
The Seventh Principle - Sacrifice & Selfless Service - by Aanya Shah
Aanya Shah is 12 years old and has been studying kathak at the Chitresh Das Institute for two years and is currently in Children Beginners Level II with Anita Pai.
Pandit Chitresh Das Ji modeled nine principles for all kathak dancers to follow. Today, I would like to reflect on how they influence my life and dance.
The nine principles are:
1. Attitude and Etiquette
2. The art of mime or expression
3. Practice with deep exertion
4. Complete knowledge of Kathak
5. Improvisation
6. Educating, Promoting, and Preserving
7. Sacrifice and selfless service
8. Devotional practice for life
9. and Guru-Disciple Tradition
Today I would like to set the focal point to the seventh principle, Sacrifice, and selfless service. This principle is not just critical in Kathak but is crucial in your everyday life. Being a selfless person means caring beyond yourself. It could be for your community, the earth, or just the people around you. Learning to be a selfless person takes adequate mental strength and devotion.
Selflessness is one of the keys to a happy life. Based on my experience, I find myself happier when I'm volunteering at a food bank than shopping for myself. I enjoy helping at animal shelters and food banks because it makes me feel like I'm doing something important and beneficial for the community.
In dance, selflessness suggests being able to work as a team. When putting together a dance choreography, every kathaka has to move to taal together, despite personal skill level. Anita Didi always tells us, the whole group has to dance flawlessly or it won't look pleasant. This is why I am grateful for having this principle in my life.
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Make sure to join us on December 19, 2020 at 6pm PST, 9pm EST, 7:30am IST (Dec 20th) on our CDI’s Facebook Page and YouTube Page for our Annual Performance highlighting all the students, faculty and Youth Company of the Chitresh Das Institute, led by our brilliant Artistic Director Charlotte Moraga and amazing teachers Anita Pai, Asavari Ukidve, Preeti Zalavadia, Rucha Khisti, and Gauri Bhatnagar and our incredible Director of Percussion and tabla teacher Nilan Chaudhuri.