A Time to Dance(53)

“You think akka’s body has no

            limitations?” Govinda shouts back.

            “You think because she’s older and less flexible

            she’s not as good a dancer anymore?

            Being a good dancer is more

            than mastering

            every pose there is.”


“We’re not talking about every pose there is.

            Because of my leg, some poses are off limits.

            Entirely.

            So I must master

            everything else that’s possible.

            Can’t you see that?”


“Some dancers thrill audiences

            with exotic poses and excessive speed.

            I think you should

            care more about entering people’s hearts

            and elevating their souls

            than about entertaining their minds.

            I think you should start

            getting over your obsession with what you can or can’t

            do physically.

            Bharatanatyam dance is not just

            about perfecting your body’s skills.”

            Govinda sits down and taps out the rhythm

            using his block and stick.


Govinda’s words

            wound me more deeply

            than when Kamini

            said my dance wasn’t spiritual enough

            after I won the competition.


We don’t speak for the rest of the hour.

            I try twisting in the full-sitting pose and leaping into a lunge,

            try and fail,

            fail many times,

            fail spectacularly.


My only accomplishment, when I leave class:

            I’ve fought so hard with Govinda,

            I’ve had no time to think of being embarrassed about Jim.





AS MANY

Perfect Poses

AS PEOPLE





“Govinda doesn’t understand me!” I complain to Paati.

            “He wants me to skip every pose that’s hard

            instead of helping me perfect them.

            He wants me to skirt hurdles, not leap over them.”


In answer, Paati tells me a story.

            “The sage Vyasa once climbed

            the snowy peaks of the Himalayas,

            where Shiva lives.

            Eager to perfect every yoga pose, Vyasa asked Him,

            ‘How many yoga asanas are there?

            I wish to master every pose so I can be the best yogi of all time.’

            Shiva replied,

            ‘There are as many perfect poses as there are people.’

            And Vyasa understood that yoga

            is about embracing the uniqueness within.

            Shiva sees perfection in every sincere effort.

            He loves us despite—or maybe because of—