Boddu/Nekkanti Dance Scholarship Fund

My parents are both professional artists and performers, so my fate to be an artist was sealed before I was born. With my neurodivergent tendencies, I always felt different and weird. But with dance, everything shifted. I found people who were just as passionate and excitable. Creativity, heart, soul, friendship, kindness, collaboration, courage, and ambition are all essential for a successful artist. The change was immediate the moment I stepped onto the stage, it was like a light clicked, illuminating only one possible path for me to take on. Dance brightens life even in people’s darkest hours. It teaches empathy by making people see things from other perspectives. More importantly, it encourages us to be more tolerant of other people’s opinions beliefs, and identities. I have been a dancer for as long as I can remember, and dance has been one of the most defining aspects in my life since I began at age two. I knew pretty much nothing else but dance for the entirety of my pre-adolescence, and I had an incredibly clear vision of remaining the same, young female dancer for the rest of my pre-professional days as I moved down the path of becoming a prima ballerina, which is why the recognition that I was transgender hit me like a ton of bricks. Ballet is notorious for being incredibly gender segregated. Ever since its inception, ballet has been formulated to have males and females perform and train differently from one another. It was partially because of this that I had such a strong reaction when I came to understand I was transgender. In my mind, everything I had dreamed of was forced to come to a grinding halt, as I now believed that there was no way I could carry on with my passion for dance if this were to be my new life.  I subsequently quit dancing altogether, and although I never truly lost my love for dance during this dark period, my brain began to associate it with feelings of gender dysphoria and insecurity, which led me to become repulsed by any mention or memories of it. It was not until I worked out these complex feelings and started my transition a couple years later that I was finally able to return to dance with a fresh start at a new institution that has helped me grow exponentially. Although the initial return was undeniably difficult (both from a physical and mental perspective), I kept pushing through and am now proud of my artistic and technical growth.  If it weren’t for the endless support and encouragement from my loved ones and instructors, I would have never rediscovered my long-lost passion and found my place in the world. They have not only affirmed my identity, but have also trained me and lifted me up to the point where I am ready to become a contemporary dance major in college and pursue a professional dance career. Being neurodivergent and LQBTQ+, I hope to inspire others who have felt ignored, hurt, or bullied, and bring teachable moments to all who look for guidance or change. I love using dance as a form of expression to share my ideas and views; being able to influence just one person with this love, and to make the world a more accessible and uplifting place would mean that I have accomplished what I have always set out to do. I sincerely hope that the art that I make through dance and the activism I spread surrounding neurodiversity and LGBTQ+ rights will leave a mark on my peers and the world at large.

Dance has been part of my life for as long as I can remember. Growing up, I never questioned whether I was going to keep dancing, it was the one part of me that was never in doubt. Now as I prepare to head off to college, I know that my dance journey is going to change. I may be uncertain of how and where I will dance over the next four years, but I know that what I’ve learned after 14 years of dance will be with me wherever I go. My coaches have been incredible mentors and influences in my life. I will never forget the impact that my high school dance team coach has had on my personal development and my perspective on being part of a team. She taught me to value the people around me, to work hard for others instead of just myself. I learned to push myself even when no one was watching because I knew that the pathway to success came from constant dedication and drive. My coach demonstrated a level of determination I’d never seen before, she never gave up on us and taught me to do the same. She stopped coaching after my junior year, but the lessons she taught me have never gone away. If anything, her absence has shown me that everything she taught is now ingrained in me, and I do my best to pass that on to my teammates as a senior dancer. In addition to that special coach, my teammates have influenced my dance journey over the past four years. Coming into the all-star dance world after years of ballroom dancing was quite a switch. In the ballroom style, I trained one-on-one with a coach a couple of times per week. When I would compete, it was simply me on the floor, every dancer for themselves. Worst of all, I didn’t have any peers. By contrast, I remember how it felt to start classes at my current studio. The room was filled with dancers my age, constantly cheering each other on and calling out encouragement as we danced. The family-like atmosphere drew me in. I eventually joined many competition teams, training with the same dancers every day of the week. The intensity and expectations put on us were like nothing I’d experienced before, but so were the sense of community and unwavering support of my new teammates. Dancing with these girls taught me that no practice was too long, no competition too difficult, and no goal out of reach, as long as we tackled it together. Through dance I learned that success comes when you work every day towards your goals, maintaining discipline even when you lack motivation. After years of ballroom dancing alone, I have found a place where my passion for dance is matched and where I am genuinely supported by incredible teams. We cheer out every big practice and begin every competition saying “One team, one family”, a motto that means the world to me. My dance experience has influenced my entire high school journey. My work ethic and dedication to every aspect of my life has been drastically improved because of dance. I know that my time on these teams is quickly coming to an end, but I am also confident that the people I’ve grown to love and the lessons I’ve learned have become permanent parts of me. No matter where I go next, I find comfort in knowing that these parts of my journey will stick with me forever.

After 10 years of training, especially in the traditional South Indian classical style of Kuchipudi, dancing has had a significant impact on my identity and the person I am today. Dancing has been more than just physical movement for me; it has been a life-changing adventure of self-awareness, development, and cultural enrichment. I was deeply influenced by my early exposure to Kuchipudi dancing, which gave me a profound respect for South India's rich cultural legacy. I acquired the unmatched ability to convey stories, themes, and emotions through delicate footwork, elegant hand gestures, and expressive expressions. Every dance performance served as a medium for me to investigate and commemorate the rich tapestry of Indian mythology, spirituality, and culture. Beyond its cultural importance, Kuchipudi dancing has deeply ingrained in me a feeling of discipline, commitment, and persistence. Devotion to practice and many hours were necessary to master the complex choreography and subtle expressions. I developed grit, perseverance, and a never-ending pursuit of perfection via the demands of training—qualities that have benefited me well outside of the dance studio. In addition, Kuchipudi dancing has developed an increased level of movement and emotional intelligence in me. I gain a deeper grasp of human emotions, motivations, and connections as I move to embody numerous characters and narratives. By means of artistic expression, I acquired the ability to emotionally connect, sympathize, and interact with people beyond linguistic and cultural boundaries. Kuchipudi dancing has also greatly cultivated a sense of belonging and community in me. I made lifelong friends, experienced successes and losses together with a dynamic dance group, and relished the happiness that comes from group creativity. Through cooperative practice sessions, stage productions, and cultural gatherings, I was able to witness firsthand the ability of harmony, cooperation, and a common desire to uplift and inspire both audiences and performers. In addition, my experience with Kuchipudi dance has given me a strong feeling of purpose and obligation to protect and advance my cultural background. I feel a great responsibility to preserve this age-old art form for future generations and make sure that its beauty and importance stand the test of time as its curator. To put it simply, learning Kuchipudi dancing has transformed my identity, values, and objectives, making it more than merely a pastime or past time. Kuchipudi dancing has greatly improved my life by combining artistry, discipline, and cultural immersion. It has given me the ability to accept my background, develop resilience, encourage empathy, and build relationships with people. I take with me the priceless lessons and experiences that have shaped me into the person I am today as I continue on my dance journey.