Hemali’s Story

Hemali always loved to dance. Even as a young girl, she remembers being drawn to rhythm, to movement, to the joy of just letting go. But in her small village near Dhasa, Gujarat, opportunities to pursue Dance were almost non-existent. “There were no classes, no activities in school. I had no place to learn,” she recalls. Dance, for a long time, remained something she only imagined, something she would do when no one was looking, out of pure personal joy.

Like most children in her village, Hemali eventually joined high school in Dhasa. That’s where she first came across Junoon Academy. For the first time in her life, the dream of dancing didn’t feel so far away. She joined a class, curious and excited, not knowing that this step would change the course of her life. “At first, I Danced just for fun,” she says, “but slowly, it became something more. It became a part of me.”

As Hemali trained in Bharatnatyam, something began to shift. Dance stopped being just an activity; it became a calling. She started seeing herself on stage, imagining a life where Dance wasn't just something she did after school but something she could do forever. “I want to be a professional Dancer,” she says with quiet confidence.

Her family of four—her parents and younger sister—weren’t expecting this. They were supportive but surprised by how seriously she took her training. “Still, they never stopped me. They trusted me. They understood,” Hemali says. That support became her foundation. Later, her younger sister also joined Junoon. But while she enjoyed dancing, it was different for her. “She wasn’t as consistent. She found it hard to balance studies and practice,” Hemali says. “For me, I knew I had to make it work.”

And she did. Hemali learned to manage her time with care. When practice ran long, she would stay up to study. If she missed something in class, she would use breaks or stay back to catch up. “It wasn’t easy,” she admits, “but Dance gave me discipline. It taught me how to value every minute.”

Dance also changed her in other ways. Before joining Junoon, Hemali had trouble falling asleep. Her body would stay restless, her mind racing. But regular practice brought her into rhythm, not just physically, but mentally too. “My sleep improved. My health got better. I felt more in control.”

Of all the Dance forms, it is Bharatnatyam that Hemali connects with the most. She says the structure, the expression, and the deep cultural roots of the form make it exciting and meaningful. She loves trying to get her choreography right, correcting her posture, and improving with every class. “I still get nervous before going on stage,” she says, “but by then, my body is so prepared, it just knows what to do.” Her little ritual before every performance is to close her eyes, blur out the crowd, and center herself. “It helps me feel calm. Then the music starts, and everything else fades away.”

Her first time on stage was a blur of nerves and self-doubt. She didn’t think she could do it. But performance after performance, her confidence grew. Now, being on stage feels like home. "Dance makes me feel alive,” she says. “It makes me feel seen.”

Today, Hemali is not just a student at Junoon, she also teaches the younger batch as a trainer. She takes this role seriously. “I tell them, practice hard. Don’t give up when it gets painful. That pain is part of becoming better.” She wants more and more girls to join, to give Dance a chance, to see what it unlocks in them.

Outside the Dance sessions, Hemali has other interests too. She loves designing, decorating, and experimenting with different styles of writing. And she dreams of traveling. “I want to see rivers, mountains, new places,” she says with a smile.

But no matter where she goes, she knows where her journey began. In her beautiful village where people celebrate festivals together, where the forest isn’t far and lions sometimes wander close. Her favorite festival is Navratri, when she Dances garba with joy and abandon.

Hemali’s journey is still unfolding. She’s still learning, still growing, still dreaming bigger every day. But at her core, she remains the same, a girl who once Danced in secret, now dancing on stage with courage, grace, and purpose.

She holds deep gratitude for those who believed in her. Especially Mythili, who, she says, supported her “even more than my parents did.” And as she steps into new roles, both as a performer and teacher, she carries with her the belief that passion, when nurtured, can truly change a life.

Hetal’s Story

Hetal is quietly weaving together strength, creativity, and purpose through Dance. A first-year student and a Bharatnatyam student for the past four years, Hetal is now also a trainer passing on the rhythm and discipline of Classical Dance to the younger girls in her school. But her journey didn’t begin with big dreams. It began with a simple wish: to do something different.

She didn’t want her days to be defined by books alone. Dance offered her something more: a way to move, to feel, to challenge herself. In the beginning, it was difficult. Her body resisted, the training was intense. But she stayed consistent. Over time, she discovered the incredible physical and mental stability dance could offer. She no longer felt like “just an ordinary girl.” With every class, she grew stronger in her body, in her confidence, and in her dreams.

Now, she dances not just for the joy of it, but with a clear goal in mind: to become a performer who can move people, stir emotions, and create unforgettable moments on stage. She knows that this will take effort, but she is ready for it. “I want to evolve as a dancer. I want to connect deeply with the audience,” she says, her eyes shining with quiet ambition.

Once extremely competitive, Hetal’s perspective shifted after facing a loss. It taught her that winning isn't everything. What matters more is leaving a mark, doing your best, and dancing with honesty. That moment of reflection helped her mature, both as a dancer and a person.

Outside of dance, Hetal continues to build herself with care and curiosity. She’s a gifted mehendi artist, a skill she uses to earn extra income for her family. As the eldest of four sisters, she carries a sense of responsibility with grace. She’s learning makeup and beauty techniques too, always looking for ways to support her father and create a better future for her siblings. “I want to be capable. I want to contribute,” she says simply, but with deep conviction.

Her father has been her strongest supporter. When neighbors questioned his decision to let her dance, he stood by her. That belief has become the foundation of Hetal’s courage. “Even when others told him to stop me, he never listened,” she shares with pride.

Hetal joined Junoon because it felt new and exciting. But over time, she discovered something deeper: a connection to the roots of dance. She remembers loving the Sanskrit classes that explored the history and stories behind each movement. That connection to culture and narrative now fuels her artistic expression.

As a trainer, she is gentle but intentional. She doesn’t just want to teach steps, she wants her students to enjoy dancing the way she did. “I try to understand if the girls are really interested. I want them to enjoy dancing, not just follow instructions.”

Hetal’s story is one of transformation from an ordinary girl looking for something more, to a strong, skilled young woman with passion, purpose, and a powerful voice. She is not just shaping her own future, but quietly inspiring those around her to dream a little bigger, move a little bolder, and believe in the strength of their own stories.

Sejal’s Story

Sejal is a quiet and focused Dancer from Junoon Academy in Gopalgram. She begins each day with intense practice, training alongside the academy’s most senior students. She enjoys being on stage, it gives her a deep sense of confidence and belief in herself. Watching her seniors perform inspires her; she hopes to one day dance with the same grace and strength, or even better. Bharatanatyam has become something she truly enjoys, not just as a form, but as a path she wants to grow in.

Sejal is in the 10th grade, a year often marked by pressure, exams, and the anxiety of what lies ahead. But for her, the day begins with movement. Her body wakes before her books do. She trains in silence, not out of shyness but because her language is movement. She observes more than she speaks. Her eyes catch the smallest of corrections. Her feet learn quickly. Her presence is light, but her dedication is heavy with purpose.

She wasn’t always chasing the path of a performer. Her elder sister Hetal, now a trainer and senior student at Junoon, was the first to bring Dance into their home. Sejal watched her sister grow in strength and confidence, and saw the light in her eyes after each performance. So when she first joined Junoon, it was simply to stay active and take a break from studies, a way to move. But over time, something shifted.

A year into training, Sejal now shares the space with dancers years ahead of her in experience. She belongs there. Her growth has been steady and strong. Even as she prepares for one of the most important academic years of her life, she hasn’t once stepped away from her practice. She begins her mornings dancing. She returns to it after school. Between lessons and textbooks, her body continues to listen, respond, and remember.

What’s remarkable is not just her consistency, it's the way dance has become a source of clarity for her. Instead of being a distraction, it grounds her. “It helps me focus,” she says softly. “When I dance, I feel more ready to study.”

Sejal is not loud about her dreams, but they are there taking shape with each step, each rehearsal. Her journey is not dramatic or fast. It is steady, intentional, and full of quiet fire.

Mayuri’s Story

From a quiet village in Dhasa, Mayuri has built a life where art, sport, and discipline come together in harmony. Now in the 12th grade, she has been with Junoon Academy for three years, a journey that began when she watched a demo session and felt something stir within her. Seeing her seniors dance, something clicked. She didn’t know the steps, but she wanted to be there, moving, learning, being part of that world.

The beginning wasn’t easy. Her body struggled to keep up. She often fainted during practice, her energy drained from trying to manage school and dance together. Her parents, worried, asked her to quit. But Mayuri had already made a quiet promise to herself to keep going. She pushed through the discomfort, made space for improvement, and showed her family she could balance both. Slowly, things changed. Her stamina grew. Her confidence deepened.

But Dance isn’t her only language of expression. Mayuri has been drawing since the age of five, entirely self-taught. Lines, shapes, and stories would flow from her fingers, long before she entered a classroom. Art has always been her companion, and now, with Bharatanatyam, her world has expanded into movement and form. She performs with joy and presence, connecting with audiences through her quiet intensity.

Outside the dance sessions, Mayuri also thrives on the field. She is part of Junoon’s sport programme and is in the Kho Kho team, a state-level player with remarkable agility and focus. Whether it’s art, athletics, or academics, she believes in giving everything a fair chance. “If there is interest, you must put effort into learning and improving,” she says. “That’s important for personal growth.”

She credits her mother for this openness for supporting her in doing things beyond just studies. That freedom to explore has shaped who she is today: a hardworking, multi-talented young woman with discipline in her steps and creativity in her heart.

From dancing and drawing to Kho Kho, Mayuri does it all and does it well.

Tamanna’s Story

In the small village of Gopalgram, where mornings begin with school bells and end with fading sunlight over the fields, Tamanna, a 9th-grade student, carries a quiet dream, one shaped by music, movement, and the magic of the stage.

Tamanna’s journey with Junoon began when she was in the 6th grade. She still remembers the performance that changed everything , a piece by Mythili, filled with grace and power. Something within her stirred. She didn’t yet know the mudras or the rhythms, but she knew she wanted to dance.

Since then, Tamanna has trained, practiced, and performed, slowly building a foundation in Bharatanatyam. Her love for music guided her toward dance, and her joy for performance continues to deepen. “I love being on stage,” she shares, “the energy from the audience makes me feel alive.” She dreams of performing on bigger platforms one day, of thriving in that shared space between artist and audience.

Dance, for Tamanna, is not just about expression ,it’s also a way to stay healthy and strong. She notices how movement helps her feel fit and focused, especially as she learns to balance the demands of her academics and practice. Now in 9th grade, she is figuring out how to walk both paths student and dancer with grace.

Tamanna is quiet, but not unsure. There is calm confidence in her gaze, and deep gratitude in her words. She speaks with warmth when she mentions her teacher, Mythili, whose training and support have shaped her path so far. “I feel grateful,” she says simply. “And I know I’ll need her support as I move ahead too.”

With gentle strength, Tamanna continues to grow ,not rushing, but reaching. Her dreams are big, her presence is steady, and her journey has only just begun.

Dharti’s Story

In a quiet corner of Gopalgram, far from the bustling streets of Rajkot where her family still lives, Dharti is shaping a dream. A first-year Arts student and a dedicated Dancer at Junoon, Dharti is living away from home for the first time, not out of necessity, but by choice. She chose this path to focus on something that lit a spark in her: dance.

What began as a joyful hobby slowly revealed itself as a calling. The stage that once intimidated her has now become her home. Her first performance is still etched in her heart, not just because of the applause, but because it was the first time she felt seen, proud, and purposeful. “I never thought dance would become this serious,” she smiles, “but now, I can’t imagine a life without it.”

Dharti doesn’t just dance , she tells stories. She dreams of becoming a dancer who can carry and convey emotions through every movement. For her, Bharatanatyam is more than a classical form; it's a structure that holds her, a technique that refines her expression, and a practice that pushes her beyond tiredness and pain into joy and clarity. Despite the early mornings, household responsibilities, and academic load, she continues. Her body may tire, but her spirit doesn’t.

Her growth over the past few years has been nothing short of inspiring. She remembers how she used to get tired quickly, shy to speak in front of people, unsure of her own voice. But through dance and the space Junoon gave her, she slowly discovered her strength. Now, she leads sessions, manages responsibilities, and carries herself with quiet confidence. She speaks up, shares her ideas, and embraces new roles as a performer, teacher, and leader.

Living away from her mother has been hard; she misses her deeply. But even in the silence of missing home, Dharti finds purpose. She has become a trainer and mentor, guiding other girls and women in the village. She speaks of change with quiet pride: “Before Junoon, the girls didn’t step out after dark. Now, they walk together to class, laughing.” For Dharti, being a trainer doesn’t feel like a burden; it is love in action. “I enjoy teaching. I love seeing others find joy in dance, like I did.”

She has learned to balance it all dance, studies, household chores with remarkable discipline. Her days begin early, often before sunrise, but even when exhausted, she finds energy in the work she loves. She finds joy in learning beyond the classroom too. She hopes to grow her digital skills and dreams of one day creating art on the computer. “I enjoy drawing. I want to learn more,” she says with quiet excitement.

Today, Dharti stands as proof that transformation doesn’t happen in giant leaps, but in consistent, intentional steps. With each passing day, she continues to stretch her limits emotionally, physically, and creatively. She has come into her own not just as a dancer, but as a young woman with conviction, warmth, and a voice that now rings clear.

Dharti’s journey is still unfolding, but already, her story is one of courage, dedication, and evolution. She dances not just for herself, but for those who watch her and feel hope. She is a storyteller in motion and this is only the beginning.