---
title: Dancing with eyes closed
date: 2026-08-09T11:55:44+05:30
categories:
    - how-i-do-things
description: I took a step toward my goal of learning to dance by volunteering on stage at VizChitra. By closing my eyes and ignoring how I looked, I reconnected with the joy of dancing.
tags: [personal-blog, goals, vizchitra, ilayaraja]
---

One of my [goals this year](https://www.s-anand.net/blog/my-year-in-2025/) is to learn to dance.

I haven't done much about it, but I _did_ snatch one opportunity. At [VizChitra](https://vizchitra.com/2026), Ashok Kumar led an [Afternoon Rhythm](https://vizchitra.com/2026/sessions/afternoon-rhythm) "where the drum sets a beat and you find your place within it." He invited volunteers on stage.

I usually volunteer for uncomfortable things (a habit from school days), so I briskly walked to the stage, waited for a few others to join, then started dancing to the beat.

I've been told (as a kid) that I was graceful. I haven't danced in decades. I tried a few tentative moves.

Then my mind voice went, "Screw this. Just f\*\*\*ing dance. Don't worry about looking good."

I closed my eyes. I danced to the beat.

<video controls playsinline preload="metadata" width="1600" height="1200" style="max-width: 100%; height: auto;">
  <source src="https://example.com/video.webm" type="video/webm">
  <a href="https://media.s-anand.net/2026-07-04-vizchitra-dance.webm">Here's the video</a>
</video>

This is the part where I'm supposed to say something poetic about how I felt. But it wasn't like that.

Some parts looked awkward. Felt awkward.

Some parts flowed. At least to me.

But for a few minutes, I was back at hostel, dancing to Ilayaraja's beats in my room, all by myself.

---

One of my goals this year is to learn to dance. Even more so, now.