Imagine a time where dancers decked in jewels and gold entertained kings in their lavish courts. Take that vision, and move it to present day. The surroundings have become a concert hall with many more seats for a large expectant audience. The dance itself is the only thing that remains unchanged—the dancers stand draped in silk, their hands and feet painted and their hair elaborately braided. Every single movement is perfectly coordinated and in harmony with the music. This is what junior Sameera Mokkarala and senior Ambika Rustagi have been aspiring to since they were young.

Classical Indian dance—a misnomer for Natya, which are sacred styles of Hindu theatre—is a key part of Indian culture. There are eight distinct forms, each representing one region and one group of people: Bharatanatyam, Kathak, Odissi, Kuchipudi, Mohiniattam, Manipuri and Kathakali. There are also folk dances and special forms reserved for festivals.

Junior Sameera Mokkarala is a veteran of Bharatanatyam style, a South Indian dance which emphasizes linearity and rhythm. She began dancing when she was seven years old and became really interested after her mother enrolled her in classes at Abhinaya Dance Company of San Jose. “I have a lot of family friends who have been dancing for a long time,” Mokkarala said. “I used to go to many of their performances.”

Bharatanatyam style is very hard to learn, however. “Since it is a classical dance form, it requires talent, intelligence, physical and mental stamina, discipline and dedication,” Mokkarala’s teacher Mythili Kumar said. “It takes many years to learn the art form along with the music, the rhythms and the mythology associated with the dance. The hardest task is to persevere in learning it over the years because the reward of being recognized as a good dancer comes only after long years of hard work and training.”

Mokkarala usually practices at class twice a week, but because the annual November show is approaching, she practices four times a week. “I try to practice on my own,” Mokkarala said. “Last year, it was one and a half hours a day.”

Every year, the November show has a specific theme—last year, the theme was friendship, or “saakyam.” This year, the theme will be the seasons and how they affect human moods and interaction.

Senior Ambika Rustagi, has been learning Kathak since she was eight or nine years old. “Initially, my mom signed me up when we moved to California because she was looking for an way to instill some of her North Indian culture in me,” Rustagi said. Kathak is a North Indian dance style that is derived from Persian courts. There are five different styles, each originating from different parts of North India.

Kathak focuses on both storytelling and footwork at the same time, increasing the difficulty in learning the dance. “It revolves around complex footwork and, at the same time, the storytelling of Hindu myths,” Rustagi said.

Like Mokkarala, Rustagi will also perform on Nov. 11—recently, she has been practicing three to six hours a week to prepare. “I would say the hardest part of learning Kathak is putting expression into the movements, as they become routine over time,” Rustagi said. “One has to act and become a character, often times more than one.”

Both Mokkarala’s and Rustagi’s passion for dancing stems from a love of their cultures. “It definitely brings me closer to my culture,” Rustagi said. “It’s also great because it lends a sense of community. Performing is always a group effort.” Likewise, Mokkarala hopes to continue this activity. “Dancing keeps you fit, but it also helps you keep in touch with your culture, so I hope to keep dancing even in college,” Mokkarala said.