Krupa Ravi fell for Bharatnatayam when she was just 4 years old: ‘Power of the artform to storytell caught my eye’

Every art form has a story to tell, and every artist tries his/her best to tell the tale. Thus, for Krupa Ravi, a celebrated classical dancer performer, Bharatanatyam is far more than a dance form but a lifelong journey of storytelling, discipline, and self-discovery.

For her, this journey started at a tender age of 4, and since then, there has been no looking back.“For me, the inspiration I can recall struck at age 4. I had the opportunity to watch an expressive dance performance by the actor Shobana, whose storytelling and fluid movements captured my imagination,” Krupa Ravi said while having an exclusive conversation with us in the special segment of TOI Women.“The sheer power of the artform to storytell caught my eye and my spirit as a 4-year-old, which made me try telling my own stories through dance.

There was always music and arts in my environment growing up. My family was very supportive in getting me started and supporting my journey. My parents would drive me every weekend when I was all of 7, to train,” she added. As the conversation moved ahead, she continued, “I can never forget the decision of my grandparents to relocate to a new city to support my dance aspirations as I navigated college and academics. My 76-year-old grandfather would drive me to rehearsals at 5 am in the morning across the city, almost every day, for several years.

And my grandmother, who is a senior, acclaimed literary scholar in her own right, would always bring new perspectives to any choreography and idea that we would be working on.

Looking back, the journey was only possible because of the tireless and dedicated efforts of the people who really cared. They gave every ounce of their presence, love and devotion to empower me in this journey.”“I stayed the course and continue to stay the course,” she concluded.