The RaSa way

To begin with, joining RaSa was a way for me to get back to dancing towards the end of the pandemic, little did I know that this would become so much more to me than just a dance class. 

What started as a way to spend my weekend (after all what do single men, who don’t drink, is not much of party person, and is kind of socially awkward) indulging myself doing something I love to do (other than running), has become something of a necessity, that’s taken a deeper meaning for me.

It’s not just a class where I go to learn to dance. In many ways it has a deeper and more passionate and personal meaning to me. It is my happy and safe place, my own little family, people I look forward to meeting and spending time with and most importantly learning together and from each other.

For me RaS has become what for the longest time what MRR used to mean to me, a community, a family.

RaSa for me is Raoul, the x-factor. When he’s teaching be sure you’ll be in for  something interesting, something complex, something challenging, but absolutely awesome. You’ll be learning a choreo that will challenge, that will push you out of comfort zone. But when you get it boy you will be grateful for it. He’s someone who can teach you the intricacies of a step, who has the patient to guide till you get there, but someone who will challenge what you know and help you be a better and confident social dancer. 

RaSa is Sangeeta, or Sangu as we fondly call her. She’s the glue that binds it all. She is the heart of RaSa. If Raoul is the feature ingredient then Sangu is the sauce that brings it all together, that elevates the dish. Her passion and love for dance pours out from every pore of her being and on to the dance floor, in the way she teaches. 

Shes teaches from her heart but by no way is she a softie. She will cheer you on, even pat you and give you a high five and get all  excited when you get it right, but will not shy away from scolding you and even whacking you if you are goofing around or going off the beat. But that’s her love and passion, and shows how much she cares. She’s someone who’s so damn awesome that you can’t help but be totally in awe with her, feel her love and passion. Someone I love to bit, someone who I am eternally grateful for and feel blessed to call my dear mentor and friend.

One thing what both Sangu and Raoul try to inculcate in their lessons is that dancing is much more than steps and musicality. It’s about treating your partner rightly and respectfully and respecting their space and not going a creepszoid on them. It’s about being aware of your partner and making them be comfortable and not creeped out, while dancing, something we can so easily apply to life.

Finally, RaSa for me is Mimi, Rinku, Gagan, Ryan, Surbhi, Avani, Gaurav, Yash, and so many of fellow dancers. People who are not just dance buddies, but who are also dear friends. People who I miss when I miss class or they miss class. People who I share hi-fives and jumping for joy when you get the step or sequence right, when you get a pat from Sangu instead of the traditional whack.  People who give you feedback and help you when you struggle. People who are there to support each other.

So to conclude, RaSa is not just a place I go to learn dancing. It’s more than just two people coming together to teach dancing, or people coming together to learn dancing. It’s more than just learning dancing. RaSa is an emotion, a group and bound together for their love of dance and happiness of each other’s company brings. RaSa is happiness, expressed through dance.