This journey to Bagol was a turning point. Planned months in advance and lived intensely over a single visit, it brought together reflection, responsibility, and belief. As our senior-most batch travelled beyond familiar ground for the first time, Junoon revealed itself not as impulse, but as steady fire. What follows is a lived account of the growth of dancers becoming leaders and a vision beginning to walk on its own feet.
This cross-state visit to Bagol was envisioned right at the beginning of the year, when Ms. Bhavisha first spoke of returning to her ancestral village. Months later, a few hours past midnight, we finally rolled in. With barely four hours of rest, we woke to the sound of temple bells. Our day begins not with alarms, but with rhythm and faith.
The long road to Bagol was filled with questions and reflection. Why bring our first batch of art leaders at this stage of their semi-professional training? Why a rural village? What were we hoping to offer, and what were we prepared to receive? These conversations shaped the journey itself. We strongly believe that our girls accompany more truthfully, leading this visit is both learning and affirmation. Adapting to new cultures, geographies, and social realities is essential to their growth as professional Dancers and future leaders. They will move across urban stages and empower rural batches alike, and this journey was a crucial step in that direction.
For us as mentors, this trip revealed the depth of their growth over the last four years through rigorous classical training and the lived discipline of being Dancers. Watching them stand confidently on a concrete stage before dozens of students, speaking with clarity and purpose, we saw their understanding of leadership deepen. Most striking was how naturally they connected with the younger students, blending in, listening, and being listened to. The exchange was genuine and mutual.
Alongside this exchange, the children were introduced to foundational training in Athletics, focusing on strength, coordination, and body awareness, along with an introductory exposure to both Classical and Contemporary Dance. These sessions offered them a first experience of structured movement, discipline, and expressive freedom within a holistic learning framework we follow at Junoon.
What filled us with pride was their shared ownership of the vision. Despite exhaustion, they slept little, absorbed feedback immediately, prepared with sincerity, and held honest, heart-to-heart conversations with the students they met. In those moments, the larger vision felt alive. They are slowly becoming art leaders, preserving form, carrying legacy, and learning to exist beyond comfort. It echoed the guru-shishya tradition, where learning is not separate from living, and where students walk the same path as their guides, carrying the work forward authentically. Junoon, in that sense, is not just a place of learning; it is a way of being.
Bagol quickly began to feel like home. Within 24 hours, the temples, routes, people, and grasslands became familiar, holding space for reflection much like Dhasa does. Sunrise bells, Marwari breakfasts and greetings, cattle moving through the streets, and peacocks dancing freely—all of it felt deeply grounding. We found ourselves building another home for Junoon.
Even with packed days, we stayed committed to our own discipline, making time for training on terraces, reminding ourselves that we must stay ready for what lies ahead.
This journey incubated leadership, strengthened guru–shishya bonds, and fueled scalable visions for Dhasa and beyond. “Haan, Junoon toh hai—par khamakha nahin.” Our fire is intentional. Phase one complete. The road ahead glows brighter.
For our senior-most batch, this was their first journey of this kind. They travelled not just as performers, but as leaders carrying responsibility, spreading Junoon’s vision, and holding space for young dancers who mirrored their own beginnings. This transition from students to trainers is a significant moment in their professional journey. Learning to adapt to unfamiliar spaces now prepares them for the many urban, multi-regional, and global stages ahead.
What stood out most was their belief. In the journey, in the work, and in themselves. This road trip was a gentle but necessary push beyond comfort, a step before the larger leap. They have chosen to walk this path with sincerity, living the dreams they once spoke of quietly. Watching them lead with humility and courage, we know this is only the beginning
This is Junoon.
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