Student Stories
Student Stories
I got into the Indian culture when I was 14 years old. It all started when I had a friend at school who was from India she invited me round to her house a lot and she showed me all her clothes and jewellery and talked to me about the Indian culture and then she got me into listening to Bollywood music and Indian dancing also the films. The first Bollywood film I saw was Bride and Prejudice. I have got a disability and a short growth. I did not start walking without aids until I was 8 or 9. Then as my interest grew into the Indian culture a friend of mine saw an advert for a show at Norden Farm in maidenhead in October 2006 and that is when I saw Nikita and she was advertising her dance school. I thought the show was mesmerizing. I have never forgotten that show, as it was so amazing. I then went to watch her classes in spring 2007 and then I joined Nikita’s dance school in the April 2007. Then when I joined in April I was rather shy because I did not know how the children would react to see a disabled girl in the class but since I have been going my confidence has improved tremendously. I feel that Nikita has really helped me with my confidence because she is very patient and considerate in many ways. I also feel it has helped Nikita to experience working with people who have got disabilities. Nikita has taught me classical form of Indian dancing called Kathak from North India where I have learnt some of the dance words in Hindi. By going to Nikita’s dance school it has helped me in my self-esteem my confidence. I find Nikita very inspiring I always listen to what she has to say about dance because I am enthusiastic and keen to learn new things. Also the benefits of dance for me is that dance is very good exercise especially for me because it helps me with my physiotherapy its also a stress relief so it helps me to keep my stress away at dancing. I have performed in shows at the Bhavan Centre in London also I had my 18th Birthday recently and Nikita came to my party to celebrate it with me and I did a solo dance to a Bollywood song called Om Shanti Om. Then on the 16th March Nikita organised an open to see what her dance school offers and I did a performance on stage at the open day with my dance class. These shows that I have been in and many more to come they have given me great experience for me because a couple of years back I don’t think I would of got on to a stage and dance in front of lots of people. I am actually going to be helping Nikita conduct a workshop with people who have also got disabilities at the west wing in April. Nikita has taught me a lot since I been with her. I never of thought that what I have achieved that I would of achieved today and I am really proud of myself that I would be doing kathak and Bollywood dancing on stage. I think Nikita is a wonderful person and she has encouraged me immensely. Also I think that Nikita is a really excellent teacher she breaks everything down so I can pick it up really quickly. I am very special to Nikita and I am Nikita’s number one fan. I love going to her dance classes I go twice a week and I really enjoy it. Nikita is open to anyone who has any kind of disability and any ethic group and one day I am just going to be like Nikita with her inspiration she gives me and I believe in myself that I can do what she does. Nikita means an awful lot to me and I love Nikita and she is the best dance teacher ever.
Rebecca Leigh (aged 18)