India, Sept. 9 -- Sixteen-year-old Sanjana Chauhan, a disciple of the legends of Kuchipudi dance, Padma Bhushan awardees Dr Raja Reddy, Dr Radha Reddy and Kaushalya Reddy, marked a major milestone in her artistic journey with her Rangapravesham, at the Kamani Auditorium in the Capital. Rangapravesham, which translates to 'ascending the stage' in Sanskrit, marks a classical dancer's culmination of years of dedication as a disciple. Beginning at the age of six years, the ten years of rigorous training under her Gurus, has instilled in Sanjana not only the technical mastery of Kuchipudi but also the values of perseverance and humility. "Dance for me is meditation -- it helps me look inward and strive to be a better version of myself. Having such perfectionist Gurus is always demanding on a student, but that is the key to excelling. I have been able to translate the values of hard work and discipline they have instilled in me to everything I do," Sanjana reflected. Her debut performance, in front of over 500 senior dignitaries and family, opened with a traditional Saraswati Vandana, a serene invocation to the Goddess of Knowledge, followed by Dashavatar, performed in Mohana Raga and Tisra Triputa Taal. Moving with precision through the ten incarnations of Lord Vishnu, Sanjana conveyed both power and grace, each avatar distinct in expression and rhythm. She then shifted to Chaap Tilak, Amir Khusro's devotional verse, where her subtle abhinaya (expressions) captured the essence of spiritual romance. The recital concluded with Tarangam, in praise of Lord Krishna. Balancing skilfully on the rim of a brass plate, Sanjana combined intricate footwork with vibrant expressions, a feat that drew rapturous applause. "Sanjana has evolved beautifully as a dancer. She was graceful, confident, and captivating on stage. She is truly blessed," said Kaushalya Reddy. An emotional school teacher of Sanjana observed: "We have seen her as an entrepreneurial innovator and leader, always helping others. Her initiatives like Drishti, a youth-led eye-care movement that she founded, has benefitted over 70,000 children across underserved communities, and Girl Up Gauravi, a UN-affiliated programme that she leads, mentors young women in financial literacy. It's that same passion, hard work and dedication I saw today." As the curtains fell on her Rangapravesham with a thunderous standing ovation, Sanjana observed, "This is just the beginning. All the blessings I have received today motivate me to do so much more." HTC...