Group ‘+’ (Plus)

We suppose you’ve gathered from their group name that this girl gang is a handful and more. We like to think of them as the brats that they absolutely are. We think it’s a natural consequence of them being with us from Day One of operations in Dhasa, Gujarat. And we’ve pretty much let them be who they are, save for the one time they started a winter fire and nearly burnt one of the outer walls of their studio down because they were so excited to have struck up said fire the “Early (Wo)man” way – rubbing two rocks together…
Let’s just say that ended in them re-whitewashing the wall with a bucket of paint and running many laps around the village playground to beat the winter chill. Quick and easy settlement.

Alas! It’s a bit odd to think of a time when these brats were a bunch of docile (not!) girls, just about opening up in dynamic yoga class – our first module in the Junoon curriculum – when you cut to today and watch them starting fires (literally!) all over the place.

Their Junoon, thankfully, has only grown. They’re intentional brats. Fuelled with purpose, in leading a movement in their precious rural heartland and dare we say it, beyond, that enables any and all access to the Arts and Sports.

Shenanigans (and more) included, they begin training everyday at dawn and are the last to call it a day at dusk. They embody the phrase “Train Like a Girl” and strive like true warriors to make the hashtag manifest before us every single day.

They’ve been watching over the younger ones, women and the boys, (why would they miss a chance to boss over the boys?!) handholding them through practice and ensuring they’re giving the best of themselves to those that have joined the Junoon.

Pictured here (in Line 2 from L to R) are Sejal, Hetal, Khushi, Divya, Dharti and (in Line 1 from R to L) Tamanna, Aastha, Hemali, Pragati and Sadhana.

Each of them has their strengths. While the Junoon curriculum has always been centred on Classical Dance, we have wanted the education we provide to be as holistic and well rounded as they are – talented in various disciplines; the ideal personalities to pursue Art professionally. Their Leader status emerged early on. They were more conscientious than most. They gave freely of themselves and constantly. Naming them Group ‘Plus (+)’ was an easy choice given their readiness and willingness to take on and pass on; their hunger for more. They love what they do – jumping from athletics to yoga to pilates to floor barre to barre to classical movement to music to sanskrit to literature to writing to training repetitively, knowing it’s the only way to improve, day after day. And they enjoy helping others grow as we grow in numbers.

Over time, we’ve been fortunate to have each one of them lead in a different area, in different ways. Together, they give us the right mix of assertion, lightheartedness and empathy in building themselves and the artistes and athletes of the future from the Dhasa region. Above all, they’ve been consistent, in showing up to their practice and delivering Art where it must go. Their work with our dearest women has been both inspiring and humourous in equal measure. They bring laughter and wellness to their lives. And we know for a fact that our Girls thoroughly enjoy the role reversal in instructing their mums and aunties and other village womenfolk, playing the strict, soft and solid trainers that they are.

Having said all of the above, our brats bring plenty of chaos, incessant banter and constant controversy into our lives. All of which we love to tolerate because they were born to dance, born to lead and born to start all the fires they do and indeed, keep the Junoon.