Ratnesh & Aditi

To me personally the most inspiring sight is when a parent instead of just pushing the child into
learning something, the parent joins the child and starts learning herself or himself. Nothing is
more inspiring. I have come across two such amazingly inspiring families in the last few weeks and
though of sharing.

First Umesh & Shipra - very sweet and close friends of ours. Last three saturdays i have been going
to their house in the morning and then coming to geniekids from their house. As soon i entered
their house, on each of these three satyurdays - both of them were learning - one to play bongo and
other to play keyboard - nobody was pushing their five year old to learn - they were just
themselves enjoying ( & struggling with :-)) the learning process. On all these three saturdays's
having seen such an inspiring sight early in the morning i went to genie kids feeling few feets
above the ground.

Second:
The inspiration reaches its hights, when not only the parent-child learn together - but actually
share the stage, perform together!! Anjana (current TTT batch) & Shruthi did that at Bharatiya
Vidya Bhavan on saturday and this will stay in my mind for many many years. read her email below -
which completes the whole picture for you.

So the next time you want a life time of inspiration and fun, don't just put your child into the
class, join in too!

love
ratnesh


----- Original Message -----
From: Anjana Gupta
To: "ratnesh"
Sent: Mon, 12 Feb 2007 06:48:05 +0530
Subject: My Dance Journey....To Reflection...To Realize SELF BELIEF.

Hello Ratnesh

To Share : Learning Kathak was the turning point in my life (what I was to
what I am)
To let you know : How your articles helped me reflect on SELF BELIEF I have.

This sharing maybe too long, but will keep it as short as possible.

Before joining Kathak I did not know who am I....where am I heading....

My daughter Shruthi, six and a half years old joined Kathak at BVB. As I
used to wait outside for her to finish her class, one fine day I asked
myself why waste time.... and with my husbands (Sunil) consent went ahead to
join (three months later after Shruthi had joined), without much realizing
what I am up to and what I want to do????

Now after joining too, lots of questions used to rip me apart. Am I ok in a
class where only youngsters, youth with energy and vigour, pretty young
girls, am I fat etc.. Where do I stand?? Somehow some power inside me pushed
me further.

Every year, as a part of the course, students are supposed to take up a
theory and a practical exam, which was still fine by me, but the real danger
came upon when I needed to perform, again as a part of learning.

I requested didi and opted out of performing, (also because I was not able
to convince my in laws about their ghar ki bahu learning a devotional dance)
to which she agreed too, though not whole hearted. I was asked to help
backstage which again was so much learning about the lights, the acoustics,
their costumes, make up and so many other things.

But in the second year,, Shruthi turned upon me to ask mama why are you not
performing on stage? I did not want to admit my fear and inability to her.
So with great difficulty did go ahead and I felt I only made a fool of
myself by not participating the first year. My own fears used to grip me,
but found a way out by doing a lot of self talk.

And NO LOOKING BACK after that. Shruthi and me, thoroughly started enjoying
practice sessions together( a sense of achievement developed as we practiced
each tukda, footwork etc) competing with each other and so on. Meantime it
dawned, that while I used to help Shruthi, it was a great learning to me in
many ways and somewhere had desired that I should work towards teaching
children....as it was tremendous learning for me.

Kathak also brought in lot of values to me. The preparation for theory exam
each year was very exciting... and I got drawn into it and wanted to know
more and more about history of Kathak. It was not from the examination view
point, confined to some syllabus, I went ahead to know more and more..( and
in spite of this I feel I know nothing).and finally to top my exams for two
years...(Was this the self belief I had that pushed me???) ..and this
convinced me about me being a capable person.

And in this process I also realized that from children's viewpoint it helped
Shruthi to instill commitment, discipline, devotion, responsibility,
concentration, memory power, body movements and so many other good things. I
convinced my son Karan too to join Tabla and their journey still goes on....


Again, after I finished my course this year, didi offered me to teach
temporarily the beginners at their (BVB) Gandhinagar branch, to which I
initially refused, as my inner self again in damadol, how will I manage a
class, how will I teach etc etc. What pushed me here--my self
belief??--(plus definitely Sunils push to establish an identity for myself
other than being a housewife, mother, daughter in law etc.). After accepting
the offer, I did teach there, and it was a great advantage to my personal
self; that in fact it was very huge learning for me and I thoroughly
enjoyed.

To conclude, I came across your articles on CONFIDENCE and realized that yes
it is, the Self belief in me that has brought me here today and my journey
does not end....I feel there is a lot of growth happening inside me and..and
developing the ability to express myself better...

I also want to mention Geniekids TTT sessions have been really good for
me,at the right time, in the sense, the beliefs session,(many times I find
it difficult to break beliefs) the emotional make up, the positive
intentions class, the habits of mind, Khalil Gibrans poem, has opened up new
vistas for self exploration and I feel that yes there is something inside
me...that is bringing out the beauty inside me and forcing me to become
aware, to rethink a lot of things and to transform...Thanks to the Transform
the trainer (TTT) program.

Transforming and a wealthier
Anjana Gupta