Dance Therapy

The magic of the arts—how it can liberate and empower

- Suchismita Ukil

NEHHA BHATNAGAR, 30, found it hard to accept that a dance tradition as spiritual as Bharatanatyam would be limited to just a handful privileged enough to learn the classical art. After her training in Ganesa Natyalaya under gurus Saroja and Rama Vaidyanathan, earning degrees in international relations and political science from acclaimed institutions and touring the world performing for the who’s who, this bothered her.

Could the spirituality of classical dance and the strength of international diplomacy be married? Was it possible to create an inclusive space for the performing arts, and eventually art education? The genesis of Sarvam Foundation was rooted in these questions. Nehha explains, “I was socially conscious and sensitive to the disparity around us. This led me to start teaching underprivileged girls the rudiments of Bharatanatyam.” Lucky to be from a well-todo family, she had what it took to succeed, in the conventional sense of the word. “I could have lapsed into a predictable career path. But a voice within urged me to share some of my luck with those who had none.”