Rhythm of resilience: How dance transformed my mind

Mental health challenges are something that we all encounter at some point in our lives, but women often bear the brunt of these struggles. We live in a highly male-dominated society where women's lives are fraught with stress and anxiety. From a young age, we are conditioned to believe that our primary roles are to become good wives and mothers. Many girls who deviate from these societal norms are labeled as rebellious.

In such a rigid environment, girls are often taken to so-called "pirs" or healers-many of whom are nothing more than quacks and fraudulent religious figures known to exploit and abuse vulnerable young women.

As a dancer and actor, I navigate this deeply patriarchal, misogynistic, and anti-cultural environment where the performing arts are met with disdain and contempt. This dismissive attitude is reflected in the derogatory terms used for performing artists-a singer or musician is labeled a meerasi, an actor a bhand, and a dancer is considered so lowly that they are often equated with sex workers.

Given these circumstances, how did I manage my mental health? Throughout my journey, I have endured painful remarks that, at times, led to immense stress and anxiety. I realised I needed to find a way to maintain my sanity. I turned inward and discovered my own healing power-through dance. By embracing a holistic approach, I channeled my life-energy into healing myself.

Dance has been my greatest source of strength and support in coping with life's pressures. When I am overwhelmed or depressed, dance rejuvenates and revitalises me. It reconnects me with my body, allowing me to generate energy rather than merely expending it. This is a crucial realisation for women: when we energise ourselves, we cultivate inner power.

Our physical strength grows the moment we believe in our capabilities and have confidence in our bodies. Likewise, our emotional and intellectual resilience increases when we allow this energy and passion to take shape in our thoughts. Thought has the power to heal, to manifest change, and to reshape reality. Thought, when fueled by intensity and passion, becomes a force of transformation-and we, as women, possess this power innately

Throughout my tumultuous life, dance, drama, and music have been my unwavering partners. I truly believe that without dance, I would not have survived with my sanity intact. On days when I do not exercise, meditate, or dance, I feel the weight of depression, and my body aches with pain. The day I stop dancing, I cease to exist.