Crawford Lonehill learner to perform at Disney’s iconic Diwali parade celebrations

Dreams do come true for 14-year-old Chandni Kistasamy, a Grade 8 student from Crawford International Lonehill with a passion for Indian classical dance.

Beating out thousands of talented dancers worldwide, Chandni has been handpicked to dazzle audiences at Disney’s iconic Magic Kingdom Theme Park during the Diwali parade celebrations in October.

“At first, it didn’t fully hit me. But later, when I was thinking about it, this iconic place of Disney princesses, Mickey Mouse, and all those beloved characters I grew up with, I realised that going there and performing on that same stage, like these characters, was a big and exciting thing. I’m extremely grateful for this opportunity, which came about from my love for Indian dance,” she said.

Chandni reluctantly started taking lessons of the classic Indian dance, Bharatanatyam, intending to quit after just three classes, when her mother enrolled her when she was only five years. But her plan backfired. She was hooked from the very first lesson, and her initial reluctance turned into a lifelong passion.

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It seems Chandni had unwittingly set herself up for failure – failure to resist the charm of this ancient dance form.

“I [now] practice every Saturday morning for two hours. Our shrimati Subashni Naicker, of Natya Anjali Dance School, is fantastic, and teaches us the meaning of every step and hand gesture. We are also made mindful of how the Indian culture has become so much a part of our South African landscape. Here, we are taught humility and love for all. Now, I look forward to my two hour weekend practice in my guru’s studio. It grounds me and fuels me with discipline.”

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She has a long list of things she’s looking forward to about performing at the Diwali parade. “I’m looking forward to the fireworks display. I’m sure it’s going to be Diwali themed that weekend. I’m hoping it is. I’m also looking forward to sharing space with other kids my age from different parts of the world, who are also learning Bharatanatyam in their own countries. It will be interesting to see what’s similar and different to how we are practicing this ancient art form.”

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She said getting ready to perform will not be an issue at all, as they have a wealth of experience. “I think being anxious is normal, especially when having to perform on a world stage, but my team will be there, and my teacher too, so, I’m not too scared about that. When the music starts and your feet move, the world melts away and you just dance.

“I’m hoping that by sharing my craft, people my age can realize that there is wisdom and value in things that are considered out of fashion. That some things, like ancient dance forms, never go out of style, and that, with discipline, perseverance, and consistency, you can make something like this beautiful and yours to enjoy.”

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