Somewhere into the first quarter of 2025, we had an educationist named Ms. Rajshree Doshi visit our first ever Rural Outreach that now comprises our first ever Academy in Dhasa, Gujarat. As somebody who has worked extensively in the Rural Development and education sector with some of the most impactful initiatives and organizations, Junoon has consistently looked to her counsel since inception.
Throughout her time on the field with us, she pulled out markers and charts and notes and all the creativity and structure we know is her superpower, to bring us back to our “Why?”.
Why Junoon? Why is the curriculum this way and not that? Why are our goals so widespread? Why do we have a multi-fold purpose? Why Dhasa? Why Girls? Why Women? Why Boys? Why is the system we’ve created holistic, athletic, artistic and yet, selective?
It can be disorienting sometimes to be asked all those “Why”s. Only to be put on course like you’ve never been before.
As the promoter of an initiative that has turned into a movement, I had a tough time sitting down to answer “Why” any of this ever began. When you’re on the move, functioning in a whirlwind of activity, with both childlike energy and stubbornness to make change happen, sitting still feels like a chore.
Anyway, Ms. Doshi pinned me down. And I sat before her in my straddle splits (obviously! Once a Dancer…) patiently answering all the “Why”s.
Dance is not a profession in our country. It isn’t dignified with the commerce it must be. This is because not enough is known about the makings of a Professional Dancer. If we knew what it takes, we’d value the art and the artiste commensurately. That, right there, is the awareness motive of Junoon: To enable an awareness and diffusion of Classical Dance.
The Classical Arts, a heritage we should be proud of, are endangered. They are losing relevance and they are not seen for the value they can bring to the integration of society, an understanding of humanity and the millennia of history preserved in them about our evolution as people. We simply cannot step into the future, without an understanding of the past and how we came to be. The Classical Arts happen to contain that record of the culture, circumstances, coping mechanisms, innovations, ingenuity and value systems that have shaped us. Hence, Junoon’s motive in spreading Classical Dance with an emphasis on all the Classical Arts that support Classical Dance, is an attempt to save and resuscitate the Arts by giving it authentic representation in parts known and unknown.
Junoon is as much about empowerment through the Arts as it is about giving the Arts their due. A movement for the artist, art and community.
In order for the Arts to authentically be delivered where it must, it has to be learnt, practiced and performed in a thoroughbred and holistic manner. The Junoon Method – our unique curriculum – has been put together, in consultation, research and guidance from some of the most authentic practitioners of Classical Dance around the world. These are mentors who have given the Arts their whole and soul. At Junoon, we recognize and through our curriculum, emphasize, that there is simply no other way it can be.
The Performing Arts are a natural confidence and personality builder. In Rural settings like Angalakuppam in Tamil Nadu or Dhasa itself or vulnerable regions like Baramulla in Kashmir, Junoon has helped Girls and Women walk confidently out of their homes, get rid of their inhibitions, conquer stage fright and prioritize their right to wellness, movement, health and a knowledge and practice of the Arts. We often joke, in Dhasa in particular, our Girls are now the unofficial mafia, flaunting their Junoon gear and grasp over everything athletic, artistic, academic and worldly our curriculum has to offer.
The Junoon Method of learning and teaching is rooted in the ancient Indian education system known as “Gurukul”. We believe a learning of the Arts must be immersive, sweeping and focused. We want to bring back the love and attention to learning of the Vedic era in a manner that is relevant to the modern era. We recognize the value in a bond between Guru and Shishya (Educator and Learner). It is one of mutual respect, osmosis and a love of deep learning and sharing. And we create that environment at every single Junoon experience – whether at our establishment in Dhasa or other setups elsewhere. At the former, our kids are with us from dawn to dusk, involved in Dance, Sport, Language, Music, Literature, Visual Art, discussion and observation and an overall look at the Arts, in order to truly emerge as whole artists of the future.
The Junoon Method, like the Gurukul of yore, is demanding. It seeks to push a student to her/his limits and higher capacities. Art itself requires practitioners that are able to endure more than most. Hence, our student body is carefully chosen. We are selective because we care enough for the Arts to raise an artist right. We are selective because the challenge of the Arts isn’t anybody’s for the taking in the long-run even if it must be available to everyone to have a go at. At the end of the day, we are certain that those who make it through our thorough and testing curriculum will value, further and preserve the deep sanctity and wide scope of the Arts.
In Dhasa, where we first began our Rural Outreach, the natural selection to establish our first ever Academy courtesy how our numbers here have grown (10-fold over the course of 4 years), we’ve gone from Girls to Girls and Women to Girls and Women and Boys because, at every level, we want our varied student body to have every benefit of our curriculum – whether by way of enhanced fitness and wellness or with the belief that there are immense possibilities for all the effort our kids are putting in athletically and artistically, in training most professionally.
Junoon is different because we are a first-generation initiative. We don’t come from a legacy of artists, although our curriculum has been curated by some of the most elite exponents out there. We chose to build from the ground up, to offer and implement grassroots training, to make a point: You don’t have to be wealthy or come from a line of established artists to be one. There has to be a space for standalone artists who are talented, hardworking and deserving of platforms and careers in the Arts irrespective of background, birth and influence. The Arts need to go to those it has left out. And those that have been unfairly left out need to come to the Arts without hesitation or hindrance; simply with passionate will and mind and heart.
Junoon is passionate about creating space for any and all albeit by providing an aspirational, globally standardized Arts education and training experience.
That’s a problem we are trying to solve as a brand. A gap we’re trying to fill. The reason ‘Why’ we want to exist and thrive and raise the next generation of self-reliant artists, ensuring the next century of a dignified realm of the Arts. If you woke up one morning as the daughter of a businesswoman/sportsman/welder/farmer, there is a place you can go to for a comprehensive training in the arts. That talent, hunger, and willingness is all you need.
That’s ‘Why’ Junoon.
That’s ‘Why’ we are the way we are.
The way we are is what was missing.
But it’s here, it’s been here and it will remain as we make that journey, every single day, from passion to execution, without losing the former – our Junoon.
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