“Ascending the stage” is a term that invokes the image of someone realizing their potential before an enraptured audience. This is the Tamil meaning of the word arangetram, the first solo dance undertaken by a practitioner of one of the several Hindu schools of dance. The concept of a debut dance has been observed in Tamil culture for almost two millennia, inspiring modern arangetram performances, like junior Sravya Guda’s.

“[An] arangetram [is] a dance graduation that a student does after many years of training. I’ve been training for around eight years now, and I’ve learned all of the basics,” Guda said. “[An] arangetram [is about] showing that you’re ready to perform [onstage] in front of people, [that] you’re able to take the next step [and that] you’re out of the learning phase.”

The current arangetram tradition came about as part of the emergence of Bharatanatyam dance, which takes inspiration from the devadasi tradition of Hindu temple dance and is derived from the Sadir dance practiced by devadasis. Despite the connection, the lineage of Bharatanatyam is markedly separate from the practice of the remaining devadasis, who have less auspicious futures. The current tradition was pioneered by a wave of dancers, including prominent British Indian dancer Rukmini Devi Arundale. Bharatanatyam is now a “purified” upper-class form of Sadir. As reimagined by Arundale, the dance is a fairly syncretic, somewhat Westernized tradition that remains rooted in traditional Hindu culture.

“It’s very unique that [Bharatanatyam] has been around for such a long time,” Guda said. “It’s crazy how much culture [and] history [is tied to] it. There’s so much meaning in the dances. I performed a varnam, which [was] the heart of [my] repertoire. It’s the traditional format that has been set in stone for a long time: [a] 30-minute dance that [follows] the story of [a Hindu] epic called the Mahabharata.”

Guda performed her arangetram on Sept. 23 at Clayton High School, marking a momentous occasion in her journey with the Kalakshetra Bani of Bharatanatyam dance. Banis are different types of Bharatanatyam; Kalakshetra is the form created by Arundale. Guda displayed multiple intricate and vigorous dances that she worked to build proficiency in for eight years.

The decision to perform an arangetram was not an easy one for Guda. While it represented the culmination of her years of hard work, it wasn’t always the main goal of her dance training. Conversations with mentors Guda led her to embrace this step in her path.

“At the end of our [annual] performance for 2023, I was talking to [my dance teacher], and she [said], ‘I think you might be ready [for an arangetram].’ [This goal was born out of] a very informal conversation,” Guda said. “I thought about it for a few weeks and I talked it over with my family because there’s so much that goes into it.”

Though building the proficiency needed to have an arangetram and coordinating the event were steep challenges, there was beauty in the journey for Guda. These formative experiences left a deep impression on the performer, who is grateful for the opportunity to persevere toward her goal.

“I [miss the preparation] now that it’s over,” Guda said. “If you asked me last week, I would [say], I’m ready to get this over with because I [was] filled with nerves. Now that it’s over, there’s so much that I’m looking back at that was so cool. The whole journey was amazing. There were so many cool conversations.”

As much as Guda enjoyed her path to the event, it wasn’t without its challenges. Combined with a demanding high school schedule, Guda’s training regimen led her to pursue time management techniques, testing her resolve.

“Keeping myself interested the whole time was really hard, especially in February [and] March, with finals and AP exams tests coming up,” Guda said. “It was [difficult] to make sure I was practicing and to stay focused because there [was] so much happening. That was definitely a struggle, but I got through.”

The physical side of the journey wasn’t the only challenge for Guda. Her arangetram was part of a longer personal journey that occurred over her middle and high school years. Like other parts of Hindu culture, Bharatanatyam is viewed as foreign by many Americans, dividing Guda’s identity.

“In middle school, I’d split my [identity] when I [was] in school,” Guda said. “With my American [friends], I [wouldn’t] bring in Indian culture. I don’t know what it was, [maybe] embarrassment. I’m starting to get out of that.”

The arangetram allowed Guda to display personal growth alongside technical ability. Like Arundale marrying Sadir with traditions she experienced as a world traveler, the dance allowed Guda to bring together her Indian and American spheres.

“I’m hoping that [people] learned about [my] culture [through] this art form,” Guda said. “I [invited] a lot of Indian [acquaintances], but also a lot of my American friends [and] teachers. It was a really cool opportunity for me to share parts of myself with them. I’ve only recently started to share my Indian side with friends. This was one of those cool opportunities where I was able to embrace my Indian side [and] embrace all parts of myself with all of my friends, regardless of where I know them from.”